Missouri Gets A B+ For Resource Management

BLUNT TOUTS PEW REPORT

Show-Me State Receives Top Marks

The Pew Center on the States has given Missouri above average marks on the way it manages the resources of the state.

Missouri gets a B+.

"Most states have seen their infrastructure and transportation problems get worse over the past few years; Missouri is one of the few that has managed to improve," reads the report.

Gov. Matt Blunt says this is proof that his economic policies have worked. "Change is working and Missouri is prospering. We turned a $1.1 billion deficit into three surpluses in a row without raising taxes, Missourians have created nearly 90,000 jobs since January 2005, we ended the withholdings and cuts to education and crafted budgets that increase education by $1.2 billion and we attacked waste and fraud to run a smaller, more efficient state government. Our sound economic and management policies are paying dividends for Missourians," the Governor said in a statement.

"The survey shows the outstanding management we have provided to our state, and the improvements we have made during the past three years," Gov. Blunt said

Missouri's grade beats the national average and most of its surrounding states. The report calls Missouri's transportation-planning processes "a model for the nation." It also says Missouri has "a track record of extremely conservative fiscal management and currently is in strong structural balance."

Here's a breakdown of the grading:

Overall Grade B+
Information A
Money B+
Infrastructure B+
People B-

Read the report HERE.