The Missouri House voted 110-43 on Thursday in Jefferson City to reject a budget committee’s recommendation that would have allowed in-state college tuition for undocumented immigrants.
The budget’s future is now uncertain, with Friday’s constitutional deadline looming.
The budget conference committee is comprised of a bipartisan group of House and Senate negotiators.
State Reps. Curtis Trent, R-Springfield, and Phil Christofanelli, R-St. Peters, told House colleagues that their constituents in southwest Missouri and in St. Charles County oppose providing in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants. They note they have knocked on thousands of doors.
State Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, tweeted Thursday, praising the House vote.
“Enough of the games. Time to fix HB#3 in conference and pass the budget,” Onder tweeted.
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, criticized the House vote, saying the House hasn’t rejected a conference committee recommendation since 2009.
State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, also criticized the vote, saying the conference committee had compromised on the issue.
It’s unclear what happens next. The issue will likely head back to a conference committee.
The state Constitution requires Missouri lawmakers to approve a balanced budget by Friday.
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