It's that kind of approach that Blunt believes needs to be applied to the rest of the state. It's what the state has to do if it wants to be more efficient, Blunt said. Blunt, the Republicans likely choice for gubernatorial candidate in the next election, spoke Monday night in Farmington about ways his office has improved since he took office and what needs to be done to put the state on the right track. He was the featured speaker of the Mineral Area College's Zelda Martin Cozean Lecture Series.
Blunt said Missouri has been on the wrong track for some time.
Blunt, who spent several years with the United States Navy, said as a navigator, he learned to act rather than react. He said it is important to anticipate problems and take action early. He said that is what government needs to do.
He said political candidates need to acknowledge problems and engage in debate with citizens to find real solutions. He said elected officials should keep the promises they have made. He said trust and accountability need to be restored in Jefferson City in the next decade.
He said the business climate is not where they want it to be. Businesses are moving away from the state, not because of dissatisfaction with Missourians but because of the regulatory climate -- the worker's compensation system and frivolous lawsuits.
He said the state needs to reevaluate its worker's compensation system. He is for litigation reform -- in order to keep entrepreneurs and doctors in the state. He said litigation reform is essential if the state wants to attract jobs rather than lose them to other states. The state has led the country in job loss.
Blunt talked about e-government and how it helps businesses while also helping the government stay within its means. He hopes the Secretary of State Office can be a model of what can be accomplished statewide with e-government.
Blunt also discussed cuts that have been made to essential services like education. He said 89 percent of the withholdings have been to education. He said the state should not cut essential services until other agencies have been looked at and cut.
One example he gave was the Missouri Department of Transportation, which has 67 public relation employees while the state ranks 48th in quality of roads.
"If we build good roads, we won't have to worry so much about public relations," Blunt said.
Blunt said there is no need to be discouraged about the state's situation. He believes Missouri has a bright future ahead with the right leadership. Change is essential if Missouri is going to get on the right track, he said.
Blunt also spoke about his role as Secretary of State.
Blunt said his most important function as Secretary of States is acting as the chief election official in the state. Blunt boasts that since he has been in office, elections have been free of fraud and controversy.
He spoke about the issues that came up during the 2000 election -- before he was elected into office. He said Missouri would have received more negative attention from the media if not for Florida's hanging chads.
Blunt said nine people in St. Louis have been indicted for filling out fake voter registration cards in the 2000 presidential election. To prevent incidents like this, Blunt worked with others to develop a measure of election reform with strong anti-fraud provisions.
Blunt said all Missourians deserve honest elections. He said if voters are not satisfied elections are free of fraud then the government has essentially failed.
Blunt also spoke about the lack of participation in government among young people, ages 18 to 24.
The right to vote was extended to 18 year olds in 1971, he said. The number of young adults who are voting has declined almost every election cycle since that year.
In 2000, fewer than 40 percent of people ages, 18 to 24 ,voted compared to 63 percent of people, ages 25 to 44.
Blunt said more young Missourians need to get involved in the process because they have a lot at stake, too.
To spark interest in K-12 students, Blunt has started the Responsible Missourians Initiative, which is intended to complement the state's education standards in social studies and communications.
The curriculum emphasizes ways to be involved in the community and volunteer work. It also encourages students to keep up with the news, volunteer in political campaigns and discuss public issues with their parents and peers. He believes it is a way to replace apathy with inspiration.
Sen. Peter Kinder, Rep. Jason Crowell and Rep. Kevin Engler were all in attendance for the lecture. Blunt did not choose Farmington to announce his candidacy for governor. Blunt said he has not scheduled an announcement at this time.
Several members of the Cozean family were in attendance for the lecture. Among them were Dr. Jon Cozean, Shirley Wilson, Dr. Charles Cozean, and Carol Cozean. They invited all who attended the lecture to attend a reception at their funeral home afterward.
Quelle: Park Hills Daily Journal, 12.11.2003
