House Begins Final Work on Budget

State lawmakers have completed nearly three-quarters of the budget for the next fiscal year, with some of the most controversial budget bills slated to come before the legislature today. Budget bills funding Education, Transportation, Agriculture, Conservation, Public Safety as well as other state services have been approved and sent to the Governor. Corrections, Mental Health, Health and Social Services – which carries the controversial Medicaid cuts – come up for debate today. Democrats rail against the cuts. Budget Committee Chairman Brad Lager of Maryville believes the body has done a good job. He says the General Assembly has done the best it could to draft a $19-Billion spending plan during a time of slow state revenue growth. The budget must be completed by tomorrow at six o’clock.