Robert Holden (D)

Overview

At a Glance

• Created Senior Rx Program
• Signed Downtown Economic Stimulus Act
• Signed legislation allowing health insurance coverage to uninsured children at a cost of $300 per year per child
• Signed the Women's Health Initiative
• Established mental health parity, requiring group health insurance policies to cover mental illness treatment
• Created the state's first Youth Cabinet
• Created the state's Homeland Security program, following the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks on the nation
• Created the Children's Division and Family Support Division in the Department of Social Services

Personal History

Bob Holden was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up on a small farm near Birch Tree, Missouri, where he attended a one-room schoolhouse. He graduated in 1973 from Southwest Missouri State University with a degree in political science and later studied at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Holden also received an honorary doctorate from Lincoln University.

In 1982, Holden began his first campaign for the state legislature, during which he met his wife, Lori Hauser Holden, who is originally from Aurora, Missouri. They married in 1983 and have two sons, Robert Lee III and John D. The family is active in the Community Christian Church in Jefferson City.

Holden has held various leadership roles, including serving as Dean of the American Legion Missouri Boys State Legislative School and as an honorary board member for Boys and Girls Town of Missouri. Additionally, he has been a national board member of the Parents as Teachers organization for over twenty years, supported the Save the Children initiative, and served in the Missouri National Guard.

Political History

Holden began his public service career in 1976 as an assistant to State Treasurer James Spainhower. In 1983, he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives for the 136th District, where he served three terms until 1989. During his time in the house, he was the chairman of the House General Administration Budget Committee, contributed to the House Budget Committee, and championed campaign finance reform. He co-sponsored the Excellence in Education Act and played a key role in reorganizing the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

From 1989 to 1991, Holden worked as an administrative assistant in the St. Louis office of former Congressman Richard Gephardt. He then served two four-year terms as State Treasurer from 1992 to 2000. Notably, he earned Missouri $1 billion in interest from investments, created the Dollar$ and Sense program to teach children about money management, and established the Missouri MOST program, a tax incentive designed to help families save for their children’s education.

In the 2000 governor's race, Holden narrowly defeated Republican Jim Talent. He subsequently chaired the Midwestern Governors' Conference, advocating for economic stimulus through education and research. He also led the Governors' Ethanol Coalition and represented his peers on the National Medicaid Reform Task Force, where he defended Missouri's Medicaid program against proposed cuts and established the Senior Rx program in 2001 to assist the elderly with prescription drug costs.

Although he was generally pro-gun, Gov. Holden vetoed a concealed-carry bill that was later overridden by the legislature, allowing it to become law in 2003. He advocated for increased funding for elementary and secondary education but was unsuccessful in securing additional legislative support during a special session.

In 2004, Gov. Holden lost the Democratic primary for re-election to State Auditor Claire McCaskill, whose campaign capitalized on growing dissatisfaction with Gov. Holden as his approval ratings declined. McCaskill ultimately lost the general election to Republican Matt Blunt.

Historical Significance

Gov. Bob Holden's inauguration in 2001 was the most elaborate and expensive in Missouri's history, costing $1 million, with $125,000 funded by the state government. Despite receiving public financing similar to that of his predecessors, the perceived extravagance of the ceremony became a point of contention for his opponents.

Once in office, Holden faced significant challenges due to a Republican-controlled state legislature, which was evident in their lack of cooperation during a special session he convened to address issues such as higher education funding, access to the state's Rainy Day Fund, and closing corporate tax loopholes. This tension led Holden to veto the budget twice and call the legislature back into session in an effort to secure essential funding and implement necessary reforms.