Budget Committee passes nearly $100 million in stimulus spending

Intro: The House Budget Committee approved nearly $100 million in federal stimulus money for state agencies to use in the next three months.

Theo Keith has more from Jefferson City.

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Most of the money will go to renewable energy and worker retraining.

The funds are a part of Missouri's $2 billion cut of stimulus money the federal government targeted at specific programs.

That means the state doesn't have a say where the money goes.

State budget director Linda Luebbering says the funds will go to departments that can use it quickly.

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Description: "We don't lose it if we don't spend it by June 30, but it is available and we would like to start these programs. For example, workforce training. Absolutely no reason to wait on that; we should get started as soon as we can."

Luebbering says she hopes the legislature will appropriate more money before the May 8 deadline.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: Nearly $100 million in federal stimulus money is one step closer to getting to 10 state agencies after passing the House Budget Committee.

Theo Keith has more from Jefferson City.

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Most of the money will go to renewable energy and workforce retraining.

But state budget director Linda Luebbering says where the money goes isn't Missouri's call.

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Description: The federal government targeted federal money for specific programs. It is not a state option. If you want to spend the money, you must spend this money in the way the federal government has mandated.

Luebbering says this spending represents only part of $2 billion the federal government is telling the state it must spend in certain areas.

If lawmakers approve the rest of the money, it will arrive at state agencies in the next fiscal year, which starts July 1.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: Nearly $100 million in federal stimulus money received the House Budget Committee's , but the committee chairman is looking to the future.

Theo Keith has more from Jefferson City.

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Much of the money will go to renewable energy and worker retraining.

No Democrats opposed the measure.

Budget Committee Chairman Allan Icet, a St. Louis County Republican, says he will introduce more legislation next week to hand out stimulus money in the 2010 fiscal year.

Icet says these tough financial decisions make a legislative special session more likely this year.

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Description: "This year, with all this economic stimulus, it's just such a wild card as far as what does it do to the dynamic of the appropriations process. I think it is - I wouldn't say it's more than 50 percent probability - but it is probable, it is possible, let's just put it that way."

Icet says there are questions aplenty with federal strings attached to the stimulus money.

Lawmakers have until May 8 to work through the questions and get appropriations to the governor's desk.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.