The state Senate’s budget chairman doesn’t expect work on the budget to be affected, even if Senate Democrats continue to slow the pace of work in that chamber.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Kurt Schaefer (photo courtesy; Missouri Senate Communications)

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Kurt Schaefer (photo courtesy; Missouri Senate Communications)

Democrats have been controlling the pace after Republicans forced a vote on a proposed same-sex marriage ballot issue.

Columbia Republican Kurt Schaefer says members of both parties respect the need to get that done.

“The one thing that the Constitution actually requires the legislature to do every year is pass a budget. It’s the only thing that we actually have to do by law, and so I think everybody knows that and takes that responsibility seriously,” said Schaefer.

Republicans want to get the budget out early enough that they could consider overturning any vetoes or restrictions before the session ends in May. Schaefer doesn’t think Democrats will try to make them miss that mark.

“We’ve got a fair amount of time left. They would really have to tie things up for quite a while to be able to do that, so I really don’t see that happening,” said Schaefer.

The Senate will take up the House’s budget proposal when the legislature returns from Spring Break, next week.

Senate Democrat leader Joe Keaveny told Missourinet previously he doesn’t expect his caucus’ members to try to slow work on the budget, despite continued tension.