October 12, 2005
Governor’s Column
By Governor Matt Blunt
Pro-Jobs, Pro-Family Agenda
As governor, I have made creating good family supporting jobs a priority of my administration. With the help of the General Assembly Missouri is building a strong foundation that will improve economic opportunities for all Missourians.
The Department of Economic Development recently reported that Missouri’s economy grew in September to its highest level in six months. Since I took office, we have seen more than 50,000 new jobs in our state, with more than 5,000 created in the manufacturing sector. In August the state’s unemployment rate was at a four year low of 4.6 percent.
These are great signs for families in every corner of Missouri. Expanded job opportunities allow families to take charge of their own future. They lay the foundation for a better tomorrow by ensuring Missourians can live up to their full potential.
During the 93rd First Regular Session many of my pro-job, pro-family legislative priorities become reality. Missouri finally has enacted much-needed, significant and comprehensive litigation reform. This new law benefits Missourians by leveling the playfield and ensuring justice for all Missourians. I also signed a law reforming Missouri’s workers’ compensation program. The new legislation will protect injured workers without threatening jobs.
We also enacted the Missouri Quality Jobs Act that provides your community with new tools to attract “high paying” jobs to Missouri. To qualify for the incentives under the Quality Jobs Program potential employers have to provide a competitive wage in the county and have to provide health benefits to their employees. Our state is already witnessing the promising potential of the Quality Jobs Act. Express Scripts chose to relocate their headquarters to the University of Missouri- St. Louis instead of relocating to another state. Express Scripts is taking advantage of the Quality Jobs Act, which in turn spurs economic growth that benefits all Missourians.
Our state has only begun to reap the benefits of this new proactive approach to attracting jobs to Missouri. As more employers became aware of what we have done to make it possible for companies to stay competitive and offer good family supporting jobs, our state will continue to witness increased job growth and a strong economy. The real credit for Missouri’s economic expansion belongs to the people of our state. Your contribution, hard work and commitment to success are second to none.