Legislative Leaders Offer Mixed Reaction To Hancock Ruling

Legislative leaders say the State Supreme Court ruling on Hancock Amendment refunds removes some of the uncertainty as lawmakers put together a budget. The Supreme Court struck down two claims on the state treasury that could have triggered more than $500-Million in additional Hancock Amendment refunds. Many Democrats in the General Assembly see the ruling as a positive development. Many Republicans have the opposite opinion. House Speaker Jim Kreider of Nixa says this will take the pressure off the urge too dip into the money from the national tobacco settlement.