JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri Republican Party today
called on Bob Holden to apologize to the people of Missouri for selfishly
playing politics with the state budget by unnecessarily withholding money
from school children, the disabled and women seeking alternatives to
abortion.

"Bob Holden held the budget hostage for almost a
year and then tried to raise taxes in order to create an atmosphere of
misery he?d hoped to use to his own political advantage," said Paul Sloca,
communications director for the Missouri Republican Party. "Fortunately for
thousands of Missourians, the fiscally responsible approach taken by
Republicans helped expose Holden?s ruse. He should be ashamed of himself."

Last year, Holden withheld $250 million from the
current state budget because he claimed the budget wasn?t balanced. But as
state revenues continued to show a steady increase as Republican lawmakers
had predicted, Holden was forced to release $207 million for education. Last
week, Holden released the remaining $43 million for such things as veterans
homes, workshops for the disabled and a program providing financial aid to
pregnant women as a way of discouraging abortions.

"Bob Holden
was wrong about the budget and unfortunately, some of our most vulnerable
citizens including our children and disabled had to suffer," Sloca said. "The governor mislead the people
of Missouri and he should apologize. Anything less would be unacceptable."