Budget Differences Still Very Evident In House

House Speaker Jim Kreider of Nixa ties finding a solution to this year’s budget shortfall with work toward next year’s budget, a stance with which the House Minority Leader strongly disagrees. Kreider insists the legislature tap the Rainy Day Fund to help deal with the $200-Million hole in the current budget. Kreider says lawmakers should first vote on using the Rainy Day Fund to cover this year’s shortfall before considering next year’s budget. House Republican Leader Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods doesn’tunderstand Kreider’s position. Hanaway disagrees with Kreider that current budget problems are linked with next year’s budget. She says they’re separate.