Treasurer Zweifel stops in Lebanon

Ever wonder what the role of the state treasurer is? There's a lot more to it than just being a bean counter.

Missouri State Treasurer Clint Zweifel, a Democrat, is traveling around the state to explain his role as an officeholder and what benefits and incentives the treasurer brings to the state.

"The most important thing that I can do every day for Missourians is keep the state on a path of being fiscally responsible and keep our fiscal house in order," he said. "I do that by managing the state's portfolio, managing our state's banking system — not as a regulator, but by making sure the flow of money goes through the state properly. I also manage unclaimed property and am a watchdog on the state's pension and education funds."

Zweifel admits his position is a "money-type" of job, but there is much more to it.

"I think of it in terms of investments. We have a lot of other things we do beyond keeping our state on a strong fiscal course. I also work every day with community lenders to help support small businesses and farms in our state. I work with Missouri families every day to help them save for college. We work with Missourians every day to help find unclaimed property and get it back to them.

"At first, glance, the job is to keep Missouri on a strong fiscal course, but we do more than that. We make sure we keep our (AAA) bond rating, making sure we do more with less, but beyond that we have a lot of strategic ways we can reinvest and help Missouri grow," Zweifel said.

Overall, Zweifel said the state's investments continue to grow.

"Missourians should be proud," he said. "Missouri makes promises it can keep. The state is in a strong fiscal position, and we are one of only eight states that maintain a triple-A bond rating with all major rating agencies. "
While government officials have been trumpeting about "making more out of less," Zweifel said his office is doing just that — even with staffing.

For the complete article, see the Sunday edition of The Daily Record.

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