JEFFERSON CITY - Though thirteen thousand parents making as little as minimum wage would lose health coverage as a result of state budget cuts, Republican legislative leaders praised their budget, saying it preserved Missouri's safety net for its neediest citizens.
Hours before their 6pm Friday deadline, Missouri's legislature passed a budget that makes deep cuts in the budget proposed by Gov. Bob Holden. In contrast to Holden's budget, the legislative version does not require significant tax increases to be balanced.
Holden, who two weeks earlier had vowed to veto the Senate's version of the budget, said he did not know what he would do with the budget -- that his staff was still reviewing the details.
JEFFERSON CITY - More than $100 million in cuts to the state's public schools -- cuts that could mean teacher layoffs, larger class sizes and budget package that will go to the governor's desk.
The state's colleges and universities will also lose $54 million from their budgets next year under the higher education budget approved by both chambers. The cuts take funding back to the level the schools received in 1997.
JEFFERSON CITY - The recent Iraqi war in a Muslim country had special meaning for one member of Missouri's legislature, Yaphett El-Amin. She is the first female Muslim legislator in Missouri.
JEFFERSON CITY - Carletta Connor has been a TANF recipient for four years, but in July, she'll be cut off welfare. That's because her five year time-limit for welfare will expire.
JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri law provides a stronger oversight of farm animals and pets than children housed in some child care residential centers. A state law exempts from state regulation some of these facilities, including ones operated by religious organizations.
JEFFERSON CITY - A conference committee held wednesday to discuss the state budget consisted only of senators who are white and male. Sen. Mary Bland, D-Jackson County, and others said this was done intentionally.
JEFFERSON CITY - Education cuts would be minimized but the Department of Social Services would suffer cuts in the budget passed out of conference committee today.
The plan requires $150 million in additional revenue to be in balance.
JEFFERSON CITY - The Senate's budget plan would give four colleges in Republican districts a greater share of the state's funding for higher education, while the University of Missouri, whose main campus is in the district of the Democratic minority leader Ken Jacob, would lose share.