Missouri House Begins Work On Budget

Members of the Missouri House have begun work on next year’s budget, with the new Chairman of the Budget Committee predicting the budget the House eventually passes will look much different than the one the governor has proposed. Governor Bob Holden has presented a budget that depends on increased revenue from the elimination of certain business tax breaks, the passage of a tobacco tax, and increased gambling revenue to balance. He has stated he won’t sign a budget that cuts one billion dollars. House Budget Chairman Carl Bearden of St. Charles doesn’t believe he’ll have to though he also doesn’t believe Holden will get what he wants. Bearden says Holden has made some steps to cut, but he says the cuts haven’t been deep enough. And, Bearden believes the savings are there in the nearly $7-Billion general revenue budget, though he acknowledges they won’t come without pain.