Governor Wrapping Up Budget Review

Governor Bob Holden has vetoed four budget bills in four consecutive days. Today he plans to wrap up his review of the budget and, perhaps, set the date for a special legislative session. The Governor this week has vetoed the budget bills funding health, mental health, social services, higher education and education – four announcements in four days. A fifth announcement is scheduled for today. Holden says he hopes to announce he has completed his review of the budget bills and, perhaps, set a date for a special legislative session to reconsider his proposal to raise enough revenue to avoid the budget cuts. The package includes taking a tobacco tax to a vote, increasing the tax on gambling boats, ending certain business tax breaks and placing an income tax surcharge on Missourians making more than $200,000 a year. Holden says an awareness of the impact of the budget cuts will change people’s minds and change lawmaker votes.