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Dereliction of Duty: Jay Nixon refuses to stand up for Missouri

August 21, 2009

MOGOP’s Smith: “By remaining silent, Nixon is recklessly endangering the livelihoods of all Missourians.”

JEFFERSON CITY—Jay Nixon on Thursday shrugged off the destructive legislation being pushed by Congressional Democrats, declaring that he was not a “lobbyist for the state” and that it’s his job to simply “respond” to what Congress passes.

While at the State Fair, Nixon was asked if he would urge Congress to rethink cap-and-trade—a bill that would have a devastating effect on Missouri’s families, farmers, and businesses. But Nixon demurred, claiming that he would only react to federal legislation instead of attempting to influence it.

“Jay Nixon campaigned as someone willing to fight for our state, but now he claims that standing up for Missouri taxpayers is not in his job description. By remaining silent as Washington pushes costly big-government programs, Nixon is recklessly endangering the livelihoods of all Missourians,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party. “Governors of both parties from across the country are protesting Barack Obama’s experiment with our health care and his job-killing cap-and-trade bill, but Nixon has abandoned the state and its citizens.”

According to audio of Nixon’s news conference posted by Missourinet, Nixon claimed, “I’m not the lobbyist for the state, I’m the Governor of the state. And the people here – thousands of people here – will have their chance to talk directly to those Members of Congress and we’ll respond accordingly to what they pass.” He also claimed “What Congress does, Congress does.”