House Prepares For What Could Be Final Week Of Legislative Session

This could be the last week of the special legislative session as the budget bills return to the House, setting up negotiations between the House and Senate to iron out differences. House Speaker Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods insists the lines of communication remain open between Republican legislative leaders and Governor Bob Holden’s office as the two sides continue to look at every possible alternative for a resolution. Hanaway has assigned three bills seeking to raise revenue to avoid budget cuts to the House Tax Policy Committee. She doesn’t even expect them to come out of committee. She does expect the four revised budget bills to be completed by mid-week and returned to Governor Holden. Hanaway denies Republicans want to push the Governor up against the July 1st start of the fiscal year so he either has to signed the bills or shut down a part of state government.