Blog

Jay Nixon spends year sugarcoating Missouri economic news

June 12, 2012

Just days after Barack Obama showed how disconnected he was from ordinary Americans by declaring that the economy is “doing fine,” Gov. Jay Nixon was again caught trying to sugarcoat bad economic news.

This is not the first time.  In fact, Nixon has spent the past year flying around the state claiming that the state is “turning the corner.”  But the facts don’t back up Nixon’s assertions.

According to the Commerce Department, Missouri’s economy grew by .04% in 2011—less than all of our neighboring states.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are still 25,000 fewer Missourians employed than when Nixon took office.  Even the Democratic Governors Association’s own figures show that Missouri ranked 49^th in job creation in 2011.

David M. Mitchell, director of the Bureau of Economic Research at Missouri State University, recently declared: “The state is in really bad shape economically.”

It’s no wonder 60% of Missourians believe the state is on the wrong track, according to a recent survey.

“Despite a continued onslaught of bad economic news, Jay Nixon is desperately trying to save his job by convincing Missourians that things are getting better.  But after more than a year of Nixon’s constant assurances, more and more Missourians are realizing that Jay Nixon is simply out-of-touch,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.  “Missourians deserve a governor who spends more time trying to solve the problem—instead of simply sugarcoating the issue.”

What others are saying about Missouri’s economy:

“The state is in really bad shape economically.” –David M. Mitchell, director of the Bureau of Economic Research at Missouri State University. (Associated Press, June 10, 2012)

“We are not experiencing growth in good, white-collar jobs. That’s obviously worrisome.” –Jack Strauss, Director of the Simon Center for Regional Forecasting, St. Louis University (St Louis Post-Dispatch, June 6, 2012)

Missouri’s economy grew by less than .04% in 2011, worse than all of our neighboring states and ranking 43^rd in the nation. –U.S. Department of Commerce (Associated Press, June 10, 2012 & St Louis Post-Dispatch, June 6, 2012)

Missouri ranked 49^th in job creation in 2011. –Democratic Governors Association & Bureau of Labor Statistics Data