Hopefuls differ on economy

Chad Livingood, Springfield News-Leader

Republican Kenny Hulshof believes Missouri's manufacturing environment is good, citing a recent university study that says as much.

Democrat Jay Nixon takes a more pessimistic view, pointing to the fact Missouri has lost more jobs in the last year than its eight neighboring states as evidence that current public policies are not working.

Nixon contends Hulshof's support in Congress of free trade agreements with Central American countries, Mexico and China have led to the closure of manufacturers like Rolla's Briggs & Stratton and other outsourcing of middle class jobs overseas.

Hulshof and Nixon traded barbs Tuesday over the state of Missouri's economy during individual appearances at the Missouri Municipal League's annual conference at University Plaza Hotel in Springfield.

The two candidates laid out their plans to help Missouri's economy, which reported 6.7 percent unemployment in July -- the highest in 17 years.

A new television ad by Nixon quotes Hulshof as "recently" saying Missouri's economy "continues to be strong."

Hulshof made the statement in February, but has since changed his tune with 54 days to go until Election Day.

"Things aren't as good as they were seven months ago," Hulshof said.

Saying Nixon offers a "doom and gloom" outlook on the state's direction under Republican Gov. Matt Blunt, Hulshof cited a recent Ball State University study saying Missouri has one of the nation's best manufacturing business environments.

Hulshof credited worker compensation and lawsuit reform Blunt passed a few years ago as a reason for the high rating.

But when Hulshof was taking questions from the audience, Shonte Young, an alderman from Moline Acres in north St. Louis County, confronted him about his jobs plan.

Young said it does nothing for unemployed baby boomers who have spent most their working lives in manufacturing plants that have closed in recent years.

"My point is the climate in our state is better than others," Hulshof told Young. "Do you acknowledge that?"

"No, I don't acknowledge that because this state is suffering," said Young, a Democrat.

Hulshof laid out an optimistic view for Missouri's economy by touting how hardworking Missourians are, invoking his own life story as a boy from a farm in southeast Missouri who went from walking barefoot in cotton fields to walking the halls of Congress.

"I refuse ma'am, with all respect, that we have to play second fiddle to any state," Hulshof said, gathering applause.

To prepare Missouri's work force for 21st century jobs, Hulshof said he wants to put more resources into community college and technical school work force development and "fast track" permits for new businesses. He calls it the "Bipartisan Hulshof Plan."

Hulshof contends Nixon has flip-flopped on trade agreements after generally supporting them when he ran for U.S. Senate in 1998.

"Jay Nixon supported those trade agreements earlier in his career, now I guess he's opposed to them," Hulshof said.

Nixon has said he "expressed concerns" about the North American Free Trade Agreement when it was implemented in the mid-1990s.

"(Hulshof) is unable to defend his votes," Nixon said in a recent interview. "He's unable to defend his policies of giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas and to supporting unfair trade agreements."

During his speech, Nixon said Missourians need to embrace the economic development life sciences research could bring to the state, including the controversial use of human embryos for stem cell research.

"We can't have a 'Not open for business' sign when it comes to life sciences," Nixon said. "We've got to meet this new economy, not fear it."

Source: Springfield News-Leader