News-Leader: "Missouri is fortunate to have a governor who works well with others, whether that includes members of both major political parties or representatives of private businesses. … Nixon’s interest in education reflects his passion for the people of Missouri. He proudly speaks of the state’s expansion of its A+ program to make college available to 65,000 eligible students...At the same time, the governor’s focus on what he calls “rigid fiscal discipline” has served the state well, keeping the state’s high bond rating and getting a balanced budget passed without major disagreement. In order to accomplish that, Nixon had to work with both Democratic and Republican legislators."
Star: "Nixon became Missouri’s governor four years ago in the chaos of a national economic collapse. He also has overseen the state’s responses to some of the worst natural disasters in its history. Nixon has handled the crises well. His shrewd management of the budget spared Missouri some of the pain experienced by states across the country. … Nixon has accomplished much in his first term. He pushed for incentives for automakers, which paid off with Ford expanding its Claycomo plant and creating hundreds of new jobs. He worked with the legislature to have insurers pay for therapy for autistic children..."
Post-Dispatch: "Mr. Nixon worked with key Republican leaders in the Legislature for some early scores. Mr. Nixon and the Republicans passed an economic development bill that would ultimately lead to Ford and GM agreeing to keep manufacturing jobs in Missouri’s two largest metro areas. They worked together to reduce future costs of state employee pensions. They passed a bill requiring insurance companies to cover treatment for children with autism. … he’s been steady, particularly in responding to the state’s unprecedented run of natural disasters."
