Republican lays blame for budget

The ranking Republican on the Missouri House Budget Committee says free-spending by the legislature has caught up with state government. State government faces a $300 million shortfall this fiscal year, and another $300 million shortfall for the next fiscal year that begins July 1st. State Representative Ken Legan of Halfway says state government took on too many programs during prosperous economic times, like expansion of children’s programs, and new prisons. He doesn’t foresee any lay-offs, but does expect some programs to leave vacant positions unfilled.