General Assembly Completes Work On Budget

The State Legislature has completed its work on a budget for the 2004 fiscal year and sent the package to Governor Bob Holden. The budget contains cuts to education, social services, and to state departments and agencies. But, it contains no tax increases. Governor Holden is withholding comment on the package until he sees the funding formula. He has the option of vetoing the entire package or using his line item veto power to delete certain items he finds objectionable. Senate Democrat Leader Ken Jacob of Columbia and House Democrat Leader Mark Abel of Festus are asking the Governor to veto the bill. They say Missourians should be given the opportunity to vote for tax increases as a means of maintaining current spending levels or even increase them.