Missouri Gov.-elect Jay Nixon last week named former state lawmaker Wayne Goode to serve as deputy transition director for budget and fiscal issues.
Goode is a 40-year veteran of the Legislature, serving on the appropriations committees in both the House and Senate. Nixon, a Democrat, beat Republican candidate Kenny Hulshof earlier this month. He will replace Gov. Matt Blunt, a Republican, who did not seek re-election.
Nixon will take office in January amid growing budgetary worries. Although the state had been weathering the economic slump earlier this year, revenues are now slipping. Total collections this year are at around $2.4 billion, about 1% below last year. The fiscal 2009 budget is based on 2.8% growth in tax revenues.
Nixon pledged during the campaign to restore Medicaid cuts Blunt made in 2005. He also proposed greater investment in expanding higher education access and job creation and a property tax cut for seniors, but it’s unclear whether the state can now afford new or expanded initiatives.
