Request denied! The Missouri School Boards Association, meeting in Jefferson City, hears from Governor Bob Holden who criticizes legislative Republicans … then it denies the House Speaker a chance to respond. Governor Holden’s speech to school administrators focused on his desire to make education his administration’stop priority and his hope to raise the money necessary to improve the quality of schools in the state. In so-doing, the Governor criticized the Republican-controlledLegislature for refusing to agree to his tax increase proposals. House Speaker Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods watched on, then asked School Boards Association Executive Director Carter Ward for a chance to respond and to tell her side of the tax hike proposal. But Ward denied the request, saying there wasn’t enough time. Ward insists the Association does not have a pro-Holden agenda.