Three cheers for Jay Nixon for standing up to those who want more public buildings at the expense of our children's education and welfare. For too long politicians of both stripes have talked about the importance of education, but then given tax credits for various "economic development" schemes and allocated money for new buildings that yield construction jobs but little public good. Too many leaders of our public institutions are want-to-be be private real estate developers who lack the wherewithal to raise private funds and instead belly up to the public trough. It is refreshing to hear the governor say, "A budget that cuts funding to keep abused children safe, but adds funding to build a brand new government building does not reflect our priorities."

BILL WEBER, Jackson