Governor Jay Nixon says he has been completely open and transparent during the budget cutting process

Intro:	Governor Jay Nixon dismissed any notion that he is not being transparent in negotiating what to cut from the state's budget.
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Wrap: Missouri Governor Jay Nixon says he has had nothing to hide while talking to lawmakers about cutting the state's budget.

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Description: "We have been incredibly open. We started this process just a few short weeks ago. We're continuing: yesterday at UMKC, here and across the state talking how we need to right size government."

Nixon spoke to University of Missouri administrators and staff in Columbia and at Washington University in St. Louis Wednesday.

The governor says he has worked diligently with statehouse leaders.

Nixon's said his top budget cutting priorities are reforming tax credits and keeping funding flat for K through 12 education.

From Jefferson City, I'm Max Reiss, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	Governor Jay Nixon says none of his budget ideas have been kept a secret and that he's working with lawmakers to reduce state government.
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Wrap: The Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman had a list in his hands Tuesday from the governor's administration with details on where the legislature should look at cuts.

But Governor Jay Nixon said Wednesday that he wasn't hiding anything and the list was just information he had discussed with the budget chairman, Senator Rob Mayer.

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Description: "No that wasn't a list of recommended cuts. What we were working on over each and everyday over the last few weeks was which items could be open."

Nixon reemphasized Wednesday the need to merge the Missouri Water Patrol and Highway Patrol into one department.

He said his top budget cutting priority in the long term is to cut down on tax credits and how they are given out.

From Jefferson City, I'm Max Reiss, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	Missouri's top executive says his top priorities for reducing the state's budget are cutting tax credits and maintaining K through 12 education funding.
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Wrap: Governor Jay Nixon detailed the state's progress in downsizing government to audiences at the University of Missouri in Columbia and Washington University in St. Louis Wednesday.

The governor proposed reducing how much state employees travel.

Nixon said he could not believe the numbers.

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Description: "Last year state employees drove a total of 183 million miles. I'm kinda still trying to wrap my head around that number because the Earth is only 93 million miles from the sun."

The governor also said the Departments of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Education should merge into one agency.

From Jefferson City, I'm Max Reiss, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	Taxes won't go up in Missouri as a way to generate more revenue says Governor Jay Nixon.
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Wrap: Governor Jay Nixon says he refuses to let Missouri join a host of states that resorted to tax hikes as a fix for their budget problems.

That's what Nixon told audiences in Columbia and St Louis Wednesday.

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Description: "Unlike 29 other states we are not raising taxes to balance the budgets. Those other 29 states during the middle of this recession decided that their tact was to raise taxes. We will continue to hold the line on taxes here in Missourah."

Nixon said any charges that he hasn't been transparent during the budget process are false and contends he's continued to work openly with leaders in both the House and Senate.

From Jefferson City, I'm Max Reiss, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.