Gov. Nixon delivers State of State address to 2010 legislative session.
Governor Nixon agrees voters sent a strong message November 2nd, but disagrees on how some have interpreted that message.
Nixon believes the anger expressed Election Day was aimed more at Washington than Jefferson City.
“We listen to the voters, but I think they spoke a national message about fiscal responsibility, one which we’re living here. They want us focused on moving this economy forward which we’re working on,” Nixon tells the Missourinet. “I think that the hyper partisanship of Washington, D. C. has turned off a lot of people.”
Perhaps, the anger was aimed at Washington, but its effect will be felt in Jefferson City for the remaining two years of Nixon’s term. Republicans already held firm majorities in the two chambers of the legislature. Now, those majorities have swollen to unprecedented levels. In the House, Republicans hold a 106-to-57 advantage over Democrats, three short of the total needed to override a gubernatorial veto. Democrats have been pushed to the edges in the Senate, where Republicans now enjoy a 26-to-8 majority, more than enough votes to override a veto.
Nixon, a Democrat, pledges to reach across the political aisle, but it will be a tougher task during the legislative session that begins at noon. Some Republican legislative leaders, in particular incoming House Speaker Steven Tilley of Perryville, have already fired partisan shots prior to the session getting underway.
Republicans might have scored big gains in November, but that hasn’t changed Nixon’s political plans. Nixon provides a brief, one word answer to our question of whether he’s going to run for re-election.
“Yeah,” he simply states.
Nixon has two years left in the current term. He would like another.
“I enjoy this job. I think that I work really hard at it. I appreciate every day the opportunity the people have given me,” Nixon tells us. “I want to keep the state moving forward and I’m going to do everything I can for as long as people let me serve in this position to do just that.”
AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [1:15 MP3]
