MO Governor Matt Blunt's Slash and Burn

Newly elected Mizzou Governor Matt Blunt(son of DeLay crony Rep. Roy Blunt, 33 years old, kind of like a younger version of W) is making his mark-

By slashing and burning state government.  A series of articles in the Kansas City Star (NOTE: Log-in required) describes some of his proposals.

In extended...

Matt Blunt has a folksy/aw shucks style - an appeal very similar to W.  Not the sharpest tool in the shed, he gets by on his charm and how he relates to the folks.

He already made headlines by banning videogames from prisons due to their violence (OK, not a bad idea).

Now come his economic and education proposals.

First, no matter what, there will be NO NEW TAXES:

"My budget calls for significant reductions in spending for some state
agencies and programs," Blunt told a joint session of the Missouri General Assembly. "It demands that state government live within the people's means, with no new job-destroying taxes that harm working families and diminish future economic opportunities."

Second, slash Medicaid:

Details that emerged Thursday revealed that 89,000 of the state's nearly 1 million Medicaid recipients would be dropped from the rolls, while about 370,000 would see services cut back.

The reforms proposed by Blunt would eliminate eye glasses, hearing aids and wheel chairs from many Medicaid recipients. They would require a single mother of three to live on about $4,700 annually - less than $13 a day - to qualify for health care. And they would eliminate the ability for many disabled people to get part-time jobs without losing their health care.

Next, PRIVATISE GUBMINT SERVICES, end those cushy gubmint jobs:

Blunt's proposed budget would tighten eligibility for Medicaid, which pays for health care for the poor, to save $626 million. He would save $13.8 million by laying off 1,017 workers in the Mental Health Department and would close a St. Louis County habilitation center that provides housing for mentally disabled adults.

He proposed closing 11 state-run motor vehicle licensing offices and laying off the 194 workers who staff them. He would replace those with offices operated by private contractors.

Finally, change the entire premise behind public education... read it for yourself... its mind-boggling:

Perhaps his most sweeping proposal was a reworking of the way Missouri distributes state aid to local schools. He suggested that local school districts should be allowed to forgo state aid in exchange for exemptions from most state regulations.

He asked lawmakers to allow local school districts to replace the school portion of property taxes with a sales tax, an income tax or both. Such a plan, Blunt said, would free up state resources for Missouri's neediest schools.

Folks, rightwing Gov's in red states are doing this kind of nonsense- and we are heading faster and faster towards true "red" and "blue" Amwericas.  

Also, keep an eye on Blunt- we may be singing Hail to the Chief in 2016.