Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Named as One of Ten Who Made a Difference by Southern Business and Development
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt was named one of “10 People Who Made A Difference” by Southern Business and Development magazine. In naming Blunt to its annual list the magazine said:
“Another new governor on the scene in the South is Missouri’s Matt Blunt. Like Manchin, Blunt is a strong-as-new-rope leader and doesn’t back down from anything or anybody. But unlike most Missouri governors we’ve known since the 1980s, Blunt incorporates many qualities that are inherent in Southern culture. We particularly loved his response to Ford’s announcement that it is closing its St. Louis assembly plant. ‘We are working with Ford to reverse this decision.’ No governor in any state where GM or Ford announced plant closures recently said anything to the effect that they are working to ‘reverse the decision.’ Being stubborn with certain things and never giving up is a quality we’d like to see more of in politics.”
After inheriting a $1.1 billion budget deficit from his predecessor, Blunt led the effort to reverse the state’s fiscal challenges and helped create a small but real surplus in just one year by reducing the size of government and demanding increased efficiencies from executive departments under his control.
In spite of challenging fiscal times, Blunt was able to make good on his pledge to deliver more money to Missouri classrooms. Blunt was also successful in enacting changes to Missouri’s economic climate like tort reform and workers’ compensation reform both of which coupled with the governor’s Quality Jobs Initiative have helped the state’s employers and entrepreneurs create more than 35,000 jobs since January 2005.
“I am proud of the work we have accomplished in a very short period of time for Missouri’s working families,” Blunt said. “We will continue to work diligently to improve the quality of life and help create more opportunities for all Missourians, and I am honored by this special recognition.”
Blunt was mentioned in Southern Business and Development’s Winter 2006 edition.
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