The State Health Department is in line for millions of dollars for homeland security efforts. But some lawmakers are a little skeptical. The State Senate has given its blessing to the Health Department spending more than $19-million on homeland security efforts. It’s federal money that’s passing through the Legislature. The money would have to be spent in the last three months of this fiscal year. Some Senators wonder if the Department can properly spend that much money in that time. And, Senate Appropriations Chairman John Russell of Lebanon wonders ifall of this is even necessary. Russell says it’s better to spend the money and set up programs than it is to reject the federal money – and be sorry later if somebody decides Missouri will be a good terrorism target. The House and Senate are far apart on this program. They’ll likely reach a compromise early next month.
