text: Governor Nixon Disputes Argument That Tax Failed Because Of His Decision | KBIA
  By Camille Phillips • Aug 11, 2014
  Originally published on August 10, 2014 12:22 pm
  While in St. Louis Saturday to give the commencement address for the Missouri branch of the online school Western Governors University, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon refused to take responsibility for last week's failure of Amendment 7. The ballot measure would have raised sales taxes by three-quarters of a percent for ten years in order to raise money for bridges, roads and public transportation.
  "The people spoke," said Nixon. "When you have numbers that large (voting against the tax) and you have people speak in that dramatic a fashion that represents a clear reflection of Missouri's position on that issue right now."
  Both Missouri State University political scientist George Connor and Republican State Senator Mike Kehoe credit the defeat of the tax to its placement on the August ballot. It's the governor's role to decide when amendments are placed on the ballot.
  Prior to the August primary, Nixon spoke against the ballot measure, saying that it wasn't right to raise the sales tax while there are tax loopholes.
  "It just didn't seem fair to me to say let's give breaks to power companies, let's give breaks to fast food restaurants but then let's put that burden on the backs of working folks," said Nixon, who added that transportation in Missouri was traditionally funded by user fees.
  "By leaving out trucks, you put a situation in which the folks who were using the roads the most were paying nothing. And I say Missourians saw that as not a good solid step forward," said Nixon.
  The school caters to working adults who have some college credit already. About 200 Missourians have received degrees from WGU-Missouri so far, with about 80 gathering at the University of Missouri—St. Louis campus on Saturday for the graduation ceremony.
  St. Louisan Roy Shonda also spoke highly of the faculty mentor program. He said that he was out of work and depressed two years ago, spending his days drinking. The encouragement of his mentor and his brother gave him the strength to get his personal life in order and complete a Master's degree in Information Security and Assurance.
  "These are real live stories to deal with some of the over 700,000 Missourians that have college hours but no degree. This non-traditional learning method is a way that they can compete in the workforce," said Nixon of the graduates.