Campaigning Auditor Galloway featured speaker at Lawrence County Truman Day

By: 
Steve Chapman

Nicole Galloway speaks to her supporters during Truman Day Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Jim Kabell Farm. (Photo by Steve Chapman)
 

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway, Democratic candidate for Governor of Missouri in 2020, was the keynote speaker at Truman Day, a barbecue and Democratic fundraiser held at the Jim Kabell Farm in Miller, on Saturday, Sept. 21.
During her appearance, Galloway spoke to an audience of about 135 people about why she wanted to be governor. She began by speaking about her upbringing in Fulton, where she not only had to earn her allowance through doing chores, she also had to pay a “tax” on her allowance which her parents charged her and her siblings; the money was then used to do things for the family, like go out to dinner or purchase a game for them to play together. She told the audience that such an upbringing not only taught her the value of money, but also gave her a work ethic that she has in common with them.
“If I wanted a car or if I wanted gas, or if I wanted to go to the school dance, I would have to work,” she said. “I would have to save my money and pay for it myself. And that’s a value I still have now, and I know that’s the value that you share with me. You work hard for what you have; you work hard to provide an opportunity for yourself and your family, and I understand that.”
Galloway also spoke of her accomplishments as auditor, stating her office had uncovered “$350 million in government waste, abuses and mismanagement,” and that also “45 criminal counts have been brought against corrupt government officials in the state.”
Galloway said the political reaction to the passage of last year’s Clean Missouri amendment showed exactly how some Jefferson City politicians don’t serve the will of the people.
 “Within days of voters passing Clean Missouri,” she said, “the politicians in Jefferson City said, ‘You got it wrong. You didn’t know what you were voting for. You were too confused and didn’t know why you voted on Clean Missouri or what you wanted.’ My questions to these politicians is, ‘Why were voters so smart when they voted you into office but not so smart when they voted on Clean Missouri?’
During her speech, Galloway also said she had received thousands of complaints from people who had not received their state tax refunds and said the Department of Revenue couldn’t tell them when they would receive them.
“Meanwhile, your taxpayer dollars are going to pay the interest because of this administration’s incompetence,” she said. “That is not right; that is not fair.”
Galloway said the state has “carved out so many loopholes for special interests that they need the money they owe you just to make payroll for the state, because they don’t have the cash on hand.”
The result, she said, “has real-life consequences.”
“One-hundred thousand kids have been kicked off their health insurance,” Galloway said. “Rural hospitals continue to close, and the cost of your healthcare continues to rise. We have been told, ‘it’s working just fine; this is the way that the system is supposed to work.’ I don’t think so.”
“This race is going to be tough,” she added, “I know that. But I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t know there was a path forward to win, and I am going to need every single one of you for this effort.”
Following her speech, Galloway shook hands and spoke with supporters.
Jim Kabell, who hosted Truman Day, said he felt confident Galloway would be a good fit for the Governor’s office.
“I have a lot of respect for Nicole and the job she’s done in the auditor’s office; I think she’ll do a great job as governor,” he said.

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Lawrence County Record

312 S. Hickory St.
Mt. Vernon, MO, 65712
www.lawrencecountyrecord.com

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