JEFFERSON CITY - Jay Nixon today abused his taxpayer-financed office to issue a politically-motivated news release and letter attacking historic funding increases for Missouri college and university students that received bipartisan support in the Legislature.

Gov. Matt Blunt’s Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative which was recently passed by the people’s representatives in the Legislature will increase scholarship funding from $27 million to $72 million and provide $335 million in new dollars for higher education facilities across the state, yet Nixon used his official staff to draft a letter to the Governor and issue a press release attacking the landmark proposal. Just a few weeks ago, Nixon made a similar pitch opposing the landmark Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative in return for campaign contributions.

“Jay Nixon is abusing his public office by spending taxpayer dollars on news releases and staff time to launch a politically-motivated attack seeking to deny funding for Missouri students and higher education ,” said Paul Sloca, communications director for the Missouri Republican Party. “Nixon has already used similar language to raise cold hard cash for his campaign but this latest attack is being paid out of the pockets of hard-working Missourians who support funding for our college and university students.”

Nixon “official” release: http://www.ago.mo.gov/newsreleases/2007/052207.htm
Nixon fundraising e-mail: http://www.mogop.org/media/nixonmohelaemail.htm