Lawmakers trade barbs on who will be to blame for Revenue Department cuts

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Intro:	House lawmakers in the state Capitol are approving the state's budget, and they say the Governor is to blame for staff cuts that could be coming to the agency that licenses your cars.
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Wrap:

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Description: "This is... bureaucratic euthanasia. We are putting a pillow over the face of this department."

That's Democratic Representative Jeff Roorda speaking in defense of Governor Jay Nixon's recent pledge to make staff cuts in the Department of Revenue.

Nixon says the cuts are a response to budget leaders stripping the department of 1/3 of its funding while they investigate the license scanning scandal.

But Republicans like Representative Jay Barnes say the Department will receive the last 4 months of funds when lawmakers convene next session and an investigation has been completed.

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Description: "His threat yesterday is disgusting, its dishonest, and it's deplorable. It's an insult to the intelligence of all Missourians."

The budget is due on the Governor's desk by tomorrow.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.

Intro:	Dishonest, disgusting, deplorable. Words you might use to describe your worst enemy, but its how one Representative described your Missouri Governor's threat to cut the staff of the agency that licenses your cars.
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Wrap: The House has approved a budget that only funds the Revenue Department through March of next year. In response, Gov. Nixon says he'll lay people off to get through the full year.

But Republican Representative Jay Barnes says the Department will receive the last 4 months of funds once lawmakers reconvene next session.

Actuality:	BARN.WAV
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Description: "His threat yesterday is disgusting, its dishonest, and it's deplorable. It's an insult to the intelligence of all Missourians."

House Democrats support Nixon. They say relying on the General Assembly to add four months of funding is a gamble that puts driver's licenses and sales taxes on the line.

The budget is due on the Governor's desk by Friday.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.