Gov. Jay Nixon uses speech to look back, but cooperation is needed to go forward in Missouri

Republican Todd Richardson, the new Missouri House speaker, described Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon’s State of the State speech as “more of a victory lap” than an agenda for moving forward.

He’s right, and there are two major reasons for that.

Nixon’s speech Wednesday night marked his eighth and final opportunity to address the General Assembly and the state. A summing up of accomplishments was inevitable.

Also, the legislature is unlikely to enthusiastically pursue any initiatives Nixon might propose. The governor hasn’t cultivated productive relationships with lawmakers in either party.

And working hand-in-hand with Nixon isn’t the optic that candidates from the outsized Republican majority want to project to their base as they head into summer and fall elections. His calls for the legislature to expand Medicaid eligibility and pass legislation outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation aren’t likely to fall on fertile soil.

Some of Nixon’s boasting points are on the mark and represent policies that should be continued when he leaves office early next year.

Tuition at Missouri’s colleges and universities has increased minimally or remained flat during Nixon’s seven years as governor. His budget for the 2017 fiscal year proposes giving $55.6 million in performance-based funding to the state’s public higher education institutions in return for another year of no tuition increases.

Nixon and the legislature can also share pride in the state’s help for children with autism and Missourians with developmental disabilities.

In contrast to Kansas, where hundreds of developmentally disabled citizens await in-home support services, Missouri has cleared its waiting list. Nixon has proposed adding nearly $60 million to help those citizens and offer better pay to their service providers. And his budget proposes $18.6 million for expanded autism services.

Nixon has done a good job of protecting Missouri’s AAA credit rating. But his boast about Missouri adding more than 100,000 new jobs since the worst of the economic downtown was underwhelming. In fact, the state’s job performance has been lackluster. But the legislature’s main prescription — income tax cuts that will begin phasing in this year — won’t encourage growth if state services and infrastructure decline.

That’s already happening with roads and bridges. The need for additional highway funding is well documented. Missouri spends the fourth lowest among the 50 states per mile of road.

Nixon supports a small increase in the state’s gasoline tax. But key Republicans, including Richardson, are loath to do that, and are talking about tapping the general fund to pay for road work, as well as returning maintenance of some roads to local governments.

Nixon is right that lawmakers should muster the courage to raise the gasoline tax. “If you use the roads you should pay for them,” he said. “What I don’t support is taking money that should go to schools, law enforcement and mental health, and using it to patch potholes.”

The governor and legislature should make increased transportation funding their priority for the session. Fixing crumbling roads isn’t a partisan issue. To get something done would give the governor and his GOP opponents a legitimate reason to brag.

This story was originally published January 21, 2016 at 5:26 PM with the headline "Gov. Jay Nixon uses speech to look back, but cooperation is needed to go forward in Missouri."