Robbing 'Rainy Day Fund' isn't answer

"Holden needs to cut spending and reduce useless programs."

The more Gov. Bob Holden speaks, the more you realize what an ineffective leader he truly is. Holden has been plagued with self-imposed problems since his first step into the governor's mansion. If you count his million dollar fiasco of an inauguration, his first misstep took place before he took office.

Holden was stumping in St. Louis Wednesday moaning about the state budget shortfall and calling on the legislature to release $135 million of the state's Rainy Day Fund. Holden says the money is needed to help the "most vulnerable citizens," the mentally ill, developmentally disabled and those in substance abuse programs.

But what Holden doesn't say is that the Rainy Day Fund - should these monies be spent - would have only $17.8 million left in the kitty. That leaves the state extremely vulnerable on a variety of fronts.

Gov. Holden says the state has a "moral responsibility" to help those in need. Well Governor, the state also has a "moral responsibility" to fund the highway system and make it safe for all of the five million Missourians. The state has a "moral responsibility" to fully fund law enforcement to protect our residents. And the state has a "moral responsibility" to fund education for our children.

Holden's hogwash says nothing about reduced spending. He says it's more important to fund substance abuse programs than other critical needs? Where in the world does he get this crazy notion? Holden needs to cut spending and reduce useless programs. He does not need to dip into the only cash reserve available to Missourians should a crisis occur.

Maybe Holden needs to tap his union buddies who bailed his butt out of his million dollar inauguration mistake. Maybe Holden can get organized labor to help him fund this shortfall after he rams through a state taxpayer-funded building program for the professional sports teams in this state.

By law, money taken from the Rainy Day Fund must be returned to that account within three years. Holden cannot guarantee Missourians that this is possible. He says an expanding economy will bring more state revenue and thus, ample funds to repay the Rainy Day Fund. But those forecasts are based on assumptions. And assumptions don't pay the bills Governor.