Republicans Blast Nixon Disaster Spending
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Republicans Blast Nixon Disaster Spending

Date: August 23, 2011
By: Scott Kanowsky
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
Top Senate Republicans assail Governor Jay Nixon's natural disaster recovery spending.
RunTime:  0:42
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Members of a Senate Committee tasked with responding to Missouri's natural disasters blasted Nixon's handling of state funds Tuesday.

Without clear legislative approval, Nixon spent state funds for recovery efforts.

Western Republican Senator Brad Lager says he sees no reason for this spending. 

Actuality:  LAGER.WAV
Run Time:  00:11
Description: "There's a difference between an immediate responsible approach to this and, just, foolish spending. And if we're not careful we're going to be paying for foolish spending."

Nixon called for a special session of the legislature Monday, but didn't include a discussion over natural disaster recovery.

A spokesman for the Governor's office refused to be recorded.  

From the State Capitol, I'm Scott Kanowsky, NewsRadio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: 
The Senate appropriations chair says Nixon's natural disaster spending is unconstitutional.
RunTime:  0:37
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Central Republican Kurt Schaefer agrees with the state auditor that Governor Jay Nixon's funding of natural disaster relief violates the Missouri constitution. 

He says there's no basis for Nixon's spending on disaster recovery without approval of the state legislature.

Actuality:  SCHAEFER.WAV
Run Time:  00:09
Description: "The basis of withholding money on public education, on the concept that we have to spend it somewhere else--on natural disasters, for example--there's nothing that backs that up."

The state auditor's office previously released a statement condemning Nixon's spending.

A spokesman at the Governor's office refused to be recorded.

From the State Capitol, I'm Scott Kanowsky, NewsRadio 1120 KMOX.