Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson, (573)751-1378
Blunt Delivers on Key Pledges First Full Day in Office
New Governor Rescinds Collective Bargaining Executive Order, Proposed OA Service Fee Rule; Announces Cost-Cutting Measures
JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Governor Matt Blunt honored key campaign pledges he made to the people of Missouri today, his first full day in office.
In a Capitol news conference, Blunt announced the revocation of former Gov. Bob Holden's executive order which sanctioned collective bargaining for state agencies under the governor's control as well as a proposed rule filed by the office of administration (OA) which sought to allow service unions to take money out of the paychecks of state workers without their consent. Blunt also announced the closing of the state's Washington D.C. office, a freeze on the purchase of non-emergency vehicles, cell phones and the purchase and leasing of new office space for state agencies.
Blunt's revocation of Holden's executive order, and the proposed OA rule, will provide state employees with protection against this attempted infringement. The OA rule was scheduled to take effect on Jan. 30.
"I am pleased to take this step to protect Missouri's hardworking state employees," Blunt said. "The decision to join or not join a service union, political party or other organization should be left up to the individual. No such organization has the right to take money out of the pockets of state workers without their proper consent."
The closing of the Washington D.C. office will save the state more than $160,000 in rent and staff salary annually. Theoretically, the office exists to represent the state's interest in the nation's capitol. Blunt feels Missouri's two United States senators and nine-member bipartisan congressional delegation are better suited to perform this duty.
"The State of Missouri has nine members of the United States House of Representatives and two members of the United States Senate making up a delegation capable of safeguarding the state's interests," Blunt said. "The state will realize immediate savings upon the closing of the Washington D.C. office by eliminating duplication of activities and administrative costs."
The freeze on the purchase by the state of non-emergency vehicles, cell phones and the purchase and leasing of new office space will save taxpayer dollars for more important budget priorities like public education, health care and transportation. Blunt and leaders of the Missouri General Assembly have informed state agencies that difficult decisions will have to be made in order to balance the state's budget because of the anemic growth of the state's revenues and the loss of one-time funding sources.