Bill that would give schools more money moves further through the legislature

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Intro:	MIGHT WANT TO INCLUDE WITH PHILL'S SUPREME COURT CASE STORIES FROM EARLIER TODAY
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Wrap: Republican Senator Eric Schmitt from St. Louis County is the sponsor of a bill that would reduce the amount of money a city can get from court fees and traffic violations within their jurisdictions.

This bill would lower that threshold to ten percent, freeing up more money that would be distributed to local schools.

Schmitt says some cities are generating revenue using unfair methods.

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Description: "So as the economy has gone downward, these cities are grabbing for more and more revenue. And maybe they can get it from their citizens, but what they shouldn't be able to do is set up a speed trap to go find it."

The bill passed the Senate unanimously in February.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Michael Lindquist.

Intro:	A bill that would restrict a local government from allowing traffic fines to be a major contributor to its budget received support and criticism in front of a House committee.
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Wrap: St. Louis County Senator Eric Schmitt testified about his bill that would reduce the amount of money cities take in from traffic fines.

Mel Gilbert, an attorney from St. Buffalo, said he opposes the bill and speaks on behalf of the local government's who don't get as much money from tourism.

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Description: "Ones that don't have a Walmart. Ones that don't have sales tax generation to have a city budget capable of independently supporting a police department."

The bill passed the Senate in February with no opposition.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Michael Lindquist.

Intro:	A St. Louis senator explained a bill that would give more money to Missouri schools in front of a House committee.
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Wrap: St. Louis County Senator Eric Schmitt is the sponsor of a bill that would restrict cities from allowing more than ten percent of their budget to come from court fees and traffic fines.

He says the problem of speeding is inevitable but cities should go about it a different way.

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Description: "It is about government finding a new and innovative way to reach into your pocket without ever asking you if it's OK. Is it true that people are speeding? Yes. But when you have a certain number you're trying to hit every year, to me, that's less and less about enforcement and more and more about revenue generation."

The bill passed the Senate in February with a thirty-four to zero vote.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Michael Lindquist.