The student transfer issue has been headlined by legislative leaders since before the session kicked off earlier this month.
However, Gov. Jay Nixon gave the subject no more than a mention in his state of the state address, and a call to fix it.
House and Senate leaders have split opinions on whether the issue is a priority, Nixon offered no specifics: “We need to fix the law that’s led to so much stress and uncertainty for families and schools, as thousands of students are transported from one district to another,” he said.
An equal amount of attention was given to campaign contribution limits, ethics reform, and reining in tax credits — all issues Nixon simply said need the legislature’s action to fix. He asked lawmakers to reauthorize the Missouri Rx Program to hold down costs on prescription drugs for seniors and those with disabilities.
And on the same day that the Missouri Department of Transportation reported that all new projects would be suspended because funding levels were at critical levels, Nixon said simply that legislators and state officials “need to have a robust discussion about our state’s long term transportation infrastructure needs.
Nixon also said the state needs to develop a comprehensive energy plan that looks at both cost and reliability.