By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, Mo. – Governor Matt Blunt says nearly 80,000 new jobs were created in Missouri during the first two years of his administration.
He credits workers compensation reform and lawsuit reform for helping spur job growth, and he says the new jobs have added to the state's revenues.
"In the last fiscal year we had 9.2 percent general revenue growth. It appears to be the largest revenue growth we've ever had without some change in the tax code, and it's a direct result of more people working, and more people working in higher-paying jobs."
The governor also says the state's unemployment rate of 4.6 percent is the lowest it's been since 2001.
But House Minority Leader Jeff Harris says Blunt's policies promote low-paying jobs and that Missouri can do better.