Jefferson City - In an attempt to re-brand the Democrat Party in the State of Missouri, John Temporiti and Jay Nixon have spent the last few weekends spewing empty political attacks filled with false claims. They are hoping that Missourians will not remember the dark days of Democrat rule, which included job-killing tax increases, funding cuts to education, and a broken Medicaid system.

This past weekend Temporiti made the false claim that Republicans have done nothing to provide more Missourians with health care. This absurd remark is belied by the facts. Since June of 2007, MO HealthNet has increased the number of participants on the program by over 11,000 people, provided coverage for 568 disabled Missourians and provided coverage for 926 youths aging out of foster care. Desperation and a bankruptcy of ideas breeds the need to spread misinformation and lies, and unfortunately it appears the Democrat Party leadership is both desperate and bankrupt of ideas.

“Under the leadership of Governor Matt Blunt and the Republican-led General Assembly things have turned around in the state. The $1.1 billion dollar deficit has been turned into three years of surpluses and for four years in a row the state budget has been balanced without increasing taxes – easing the tax burden on Missourians with tax cuts for seniors, military heroes, manufacturing jobs and health care,” said Tina Hervey, communications director of the Missouri Republican Party. “With the creation of nearly 22,000 new jobs that provide health care through the Quality Jobs program and increased funding for Missouri students by nearly three quarters of a billion dollars, Missouri is now a better place to work, live and raise a family.”