Jobs. Economic development. More jobs. Balanced budget. Still more jobs.
There may be little disagreement among legislative leaders, Gov. Jay Nixon and various lobbying groups on that list of priorities for Missouri in this new year. Although Nixon won't release his official list until his Jan. 19 State of the State address, he's discussed it in general terms.
"We're always interested in helping businesses streamline their efforts, and making sure that we have a regulatory environment that gets folks to invest dollars (and) grow jobs," Nixon said after Wednesday morning's Governor's Prayer Breakfast.
He said lawmakers need to reauthorize the Missouri Rx Program, which helps senior citizens with their pharmaceutical costs inside the federal plan's "doughnut hole" where the federal plan provides no financial help.
In his opening day address Wednesday, new state Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, said he wants to do more to streamline government operations through the "Rebooting Government" process former Pro Tem Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, started last year.
New House Speaker Steven Tilley gave his priorities list a name: The "Show Me Solutions Initiative."