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Jeremiah W. (Jay) NixonJay Nixon, 52, has been Missouri attorney general for a record 16 years. He also is a former state senator and has made two unsuccessful bids for the U.S. Senate. Health care and education are two of Nixon's priorities. He said the Medicaid cuts of 2005 have cost Missouri more than $1 billion in federal matching funds and left hundreds of thousands without coverage. He would reverse those cuts and strive to rein in premiums and ensure families and workers have better access to health care. Nixon says he would invest more in public schools. To make college more affordable, he has proposed Missouri Promise, which would expand the A+ Schools Program to all Missouri high school students and allow them to sign contracts stating that when they finish a two-year community college degree with good grades, stay out of trouble and complete 50 hours of community service they could finish a four-year degree at a state college or university tuition-free. Nixon also wants to conduct a strict performance review of every government agency and program and eliminate those that are inefficient. He says he would encourage growth in life-sciences research, technology and innovation to create jobs. |