Bob Holden
Bob Holden (born August 24 1949) is an American politician. He is a former Governor of Missouri. He left office on January 10 2005. He is a Democrat. He was inaugurated in January 2001, after having defeated Jim Talent in a close race in November 2000. From 1993 to 2001, he served as State Treasurer.
As the first Governor to take office in the new millennium, Holden, focused on meeting the challenges of a new economy with a special focus on education. Even during a time of national recession, Holden did not backed down on his priorities of improving Missouri’s schools, protecting Missouri senior citizens, improving the health and safety of Missourians, and creating jobs for the future.
At a time when 17 others states were cutting elementary and secondary education, Missouri added funding, passed one of the nation’s strongest educational accountability bills, and initiated an innovative new character education program into the schools.
Despite severe budgetary challenges, Holden continued to fight for higher education funding and provided millions of dollars in support for university research as a means of fueling the state’s economy and moving Missouri toward the knowledge-based economy of the future.
Raised on a farm in the Ozarks, Holden respected and supported the role of agriculture in Missouri. He worked to improve the link between agriculture and life sciences research. He also improved agricultural marketing efforts including a new focus on the value-added side of agriculture, which allows farmers to expand markets and increase economic opportunities.
Holden balanced Missouri’s budget and maintained the state’s AAA bond rating, which demonstrated the financial market’s endorsement of the state’s fiscal management and responsibility. Governing magazine gave Missouri a 4-star rating, the highest possible, for good management.
Holden’s success placed him in a leadership position among Governors nationally. He was elected chair of the Midwestern Governors’ Conference where he led the Midwestern states’ efforts to stimulate the economy by focusing on education and research. Holden also chaired the Governor’s Ethanol Coalition and represented fellow Governors on the National Medicaid Reform Task Force.
Holden developed Missouri@Work, a job growth plan that created and retained high-quality jobs while the economy moved into the knowledge-based economy of the future.
In 2003, Holden signed into law legislation that allowed Missouri to become a leader in the rapidly expanding life sciences industry. He proposed and signed a law that helped rebuild infrastructure in downtown areas and supported job creation in both rural and urban communities.
Governor Holden’s efforts on behalf of Missouri seniors included the establishment of a prescription drug plan for seniors who could not afford the high cost of medicine. To accomplish this goal, he ordered a special session of the Missouri legislature in 2001 to enact the SenioRx program, which has now aided thousands of Missouri senior citizens.
Holden also led the fight for greater protection of nursing home residents and in 2003 signed the Senior Care and Protection Act. The law holds unscrupulous nursing home owners accountable for their actions and keeps bad actors out of the state.
Under Holden’s leadership, Missouri was the first state in the nation to name a Homeland Security Director following the terrorist attacks of 9/11. This prompt action by the Governor resulted in increased federal funding for homeland protection efforts in Missouri and an improved security response system for all Missourians.
Holden worked to protect the health of Missouri children through the Children’s Health Insurance Program, MC+ for Kids, providing one of the best health care plans in the nation for low-income children. In his first legislative session as governor, Holden passed the landmark Women’s Health Initiative, which dramatically increased health care access and coverage for Missouri women.
Governor Holden’s life is an affirmation of the American Dream. Raised on a farm in the Ozarks near Birch Tree, Holden attended a one-room school and went on to graduate from Southwest Missouri State University with a degree in political science. He also attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University where he took courses specifically tailored for government executives. Holden met his wife Lori Hauser Holden during his first campaign for the state legislature and they have two boys, 13-year-old Robert and 9-year-old John D.
On August 3, 2004, Holden lost a contentious primary race to State Auditor Claire McCaskill, who was beaten in the November 2 election by Matt Blunt.
Holden was born in Kansas City, Missouri.
While attending Southwest Missouri State University, Holden became a brother of Alpha Phi Omega.
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