Tour of Missouri ON for 2009; Gov. Nixon statement

Gov. Nixon released a statement today--The Tour of Missouri is a GO for 2009!

It would be very appropriate to make a quick phone call and/or email to say THANK YOU to Governor Nixon for his support:
Phone: 573-751-3222
Send an online message: https://governor.mo.gov/get-involved/contact-the-governors-office
(And if you're up to it--ask the next question: Will he appoint two bicycle & pedestrian supporters to the two empty spots on the Missouri Highways & Transportation Commission? That is an effort MoBikeFed has been working on for several months--and will soon come to a head.)

Here is Governor Nixon's statement:
Missouri currently faces tremendous financial challenges, and the state must find ways to reduce spending. Even as my administration continues to tighten its belt, I believe that the 2009 Tour of Missouri should go forward. The race will go on this year, and Missourians deserve to know that state funds for the event are used transparently and accountably. They should know precisely how money for the Tour of Missouri is being spent, and that the event is being run in a way that minimizes the cost to taxpayers.

To ensure transparency and accountability, I asked the Office of Administration to seek a full and fair explanation of all expenditures connected with the Tour of Missouri in 2007 and 2008, and of budgeted expenditures and contracts for 2009. A representative from the Office of Administration met today with representatives of the Department of Economic Development, the Division of Tourism and Tour of Missouri, Inc. Because of assurances from the Division of Tourism and the Tour of Missouri, Inc. that they are now willing to share records regarding spending on previous races and planned spending for this year’s race, the Office of Budget and Planning will immediately begin to provide state funds for the 2009 Tour of Missouri.
Many thanks to all of you who wrote or called in support of the Tour.

We heard many, many reports that the office was inundated with calls and emails, that the office's voice mail was filled up repeatedly and so on.

Once again--it was all of you who spoke up in support of bicycling who made the difference.

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