Governor Attacks Critics Of State’s Business Climate

Governor Bob Holden is going on the attack against his Republican critics and a group he thinks is a major ally of the Republicans. Holden charges Republicans and the State Chamber of Commerce are misleading the public about Missouri’s business climate. Holden has told two groups in Kansas City that he questions whether the Chamber and the Republicans are helping the state attract new business. Critics of Missouri’s present business tax structure point to 100,000 job losses in the last couple of years. Holden says they are ignoring the gain of 40,000 jobs since last March. And he says Missouri’s unemployment rate throughout the recession has been below the national average.