House Republicans estimate the Governor proposes spending 310-million dollars more than state revenue is projected to grow in the next fiscal year by legislative budget makers.
House Speaker Tim Jones (left) and House Budget Committee Chairman Rick Stream (right) address the media following the 2014 State of the State Address. (Photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)
House Speaker Tim Jones (R-Eureka) says combined with Governor Jay Nixon’s proposed supplemental budget, the Governor wants to spend 1-billion dollars in new spending on things like a new office in Washington D.C. and state parks while cutting money for veterans’ homes.
Jones accuses Nixon of “D.C.-like spending.”
“I did not hear one single proposed substantive legislative solution to any of the challenges facing our state. It was all based upon the fact that if we throw more money at our problems that will somehow solve the problems we have.”
House Budget Director Rick Stream (R-Kirkwood) that doesn’t mean Nixon’s new spending items will be automatically rejected.
“It’s not dead on arrival, it’s just subject to review. We’re going to look at every line that he’s submitted, every budget bill and make the adjustments needed to get to the point where we think we’re going to receive the revenue. We’re not going to go into this just saying everything’s dead.”
The Senate and House Budget Committees meet today and tomorrow, respectively, to begin going over the Governor’s proposed budget.