Promotion of places to go and things to see in Missouri has taken a hit from the state senate.
The senate has cut about 25% of tourism division funding approved earlier in House budget bills. Senate appropriations chairman Kurt Schaefer of Columbia says the three-milion dollar cut is necessary because the legislature is failing to pass a tax amnesty bill that might produce $70-milion. The amnesty bill, part of the governor’s recommendations in January, would allow delinquent taxpayers to pay up without state penalty.
One of the senate member sof the state tourism commission, Ryan McKenna of Crystal City, says Missouri should learn a lesson from Colorado.
The House and Senate soon will start negotiating on a compromise final budget. McKenna has urged senate negotiators to try to get tourism promotion back to the higher house figure of 13-milion dollars.