Governor Bob Holden has formally called for a special session of the Legislature, to begin at non on Monday, June 2nd. The announcement came during a news conference at the Governor’s Capitol Office. At that time, the Governor vetoed the budget bills funding Social Services, Health and Mental Health, Higher Education, and Elementary and Secondary Education. He did sign budget bills funding such departments and agencies as Agriculture, Corrections, and Public Safety. Holden will address a joint session of the General Assembly next week to outline his proposals for raising revenues he says are needed to balance the budget without further harmful cuts.
512,000 Missourians Expecting Child Tax Credit Checks
May 30, 2003 By
More than half-a-million Missourians who claimed the Child Tax Credit on their 2002 income tax returns will soon be receiving checks from Uncle Sam. 512,000 Missourians are eligible for the advance payment checks that are part of the economic stimulus package signed by President Bush. Bill Barksdale with the Internal Revenue Service in St. Louis says filers will receive up to $400 per eligible child, bringing to $1,000 the maximum credit. And, they won’t have to do any paperwork to get those checks. Checks will be sent out starting in July. Principal mailing dates are July 25th, August 1st, and August 8th.
Democrat Lawmaker Hoping For More Cooperation During Special Session
May 30, 2003 By
A veteran Democrat says he hopes Republicans in the House will relent and consider a revenue package to avoid budget cuts. Representative Bill Ransdall of Waynesville is the House Assistant Minority Floor Leader. He says Republicans, who hold the majority in the House, should consider at least parts of Governor Bob Holden’s revenue package, such as tax increases on the gambling boats, the elimination of certain business tax breaks, and an elimination of tax breaks for luxury items such as yachts. Ransdall says those items would sell, especially if cuts on the state level put pressure for increased taxes on the local level. Ransdall complains that Democrats have been shut out of the House budget process by Republican leaders who aren’t interested in full debate on the budget. The special legislative session begins Monday.
Cards Lose Another Late Lead
May 30, 2003 By
The Cardinals let another win slip through their fingers in a 7-4 loss to the Astros. In the seventh inning Albert Pujols, Edgar Renteria and J.D. Drew drove in runs to take a 4-3 lead. But the Astros scored twice in the seventh inning thanks to a throwing error and a sacrifice fly to make it 5-4 Houston. Jeff Kent doubled in a pair of runs to make it 7-4. Matt Morris wasn’t stuck with the loss, but he allowed four runs as the Cardinals and Astros split the two-game series and they’re tied for second place in the National League Central. Both teams trail the first-place Cubs by two games. The Cardinals and Reds open up a series at Busch Stadium tonight.
Royals Give Mulder His 8th Win
May 30, 2003 By
The Royals were no match for Mark Mulder. The A’s starter gave up eight hits, but only one run as Oakland topped Kansas City 6-1 at Kauffman Stadium. The A’s scored four runs off Royals starter Kyle Snyder in the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie. Kansas City’s only run came off the bat of Angel Berroa who drove in Ken Harvey with a double in the seventh inning. The Royals have now lost four in a row and are just a game above .500 with a 26-25 record. They’ve gone 10-22 since starting the season with an improbable 16-3 start. The only good news for the team yesterday was that the Twins also lost, keeping the Royals four and a half game back in the American League Central race.
