Missouri General Assembly Passes Budget Less Than One Day Before Deadline

Intro:	Missouri's General Assembly passed the budget less than a day before the constitutional deadline
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Wrap: St. Louis County Representative Bob Burns said a cap on the state's education goal was harming K through twelve students.

House Budget Chair Scott Fitzpatrick responded saying Democrats had gotten their wish of funding the state's education goal.

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Description: You guys have to find ways to make it less of a win. But I do think it is a win. I think it's a win for this body as a whole, I think it's a win for the school districts and I think it's a win for the kids.

In twenty-sixteen the General Assembly approved a five percent limit on how much the education funding goal can increase. The House and Senate approved fully funding that goal this year over Senate leadership opposition.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jack Morrisroe.

Intro:	Students brought into the country illegaly will stay ineligible for in-state tuition at Missouri's colleges and universities.
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Wrap: Senate Democrat Jason Holsman said students brought to Missouri illegaly while younger than 5 should not be punished for their parents' actions.

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Description: They want to be American citizens, they think and culturally act like American citizens, and it's not their fault that they were brought here before age five.

Opponents say giving in-state tuition to protected and undocumented immigrants is unfair to legal citizens.

The Senate version of the state budget would have allowed children of protected immigrants to receive in-state tuition. However, it was pulled out in negotiations with the House. The General Assembly approved the budget Thursday night.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jack Morrisroe.

Intro:	A bipartisan effort to fund in home-care for seniors and disabled people helped pass Missouri's budget
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Wrap: The measure takes money from state funds that are over their operating expenses.

Senate Democrat Ryan Silvey praised the amendment sponsor and described the measure as a way to help seniors live in their own homes.

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Description: I just again wanted to applaud you for working with others to go outside the box and find another way to put money in this fund so that we can fund the in-home and nursing home services.

Opponents said the measure would hurt funds that manage their money responsibly.

The measure changed the bill significantly and must be approved by the House. The budget was approved hours before the deadline.

Reporting from the state Captiol, I'm Jack Morrisroe.

Intro:	The twenty-seven billion dollar budget was finally passed by the Senate hours before the deadline
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Wrap: Republican Senator Rob Schaaf said the budget would continue to send money toward donors of Governor Eric Greitens' campaign and inaugural.

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Description: We shouldn't be giving Governor Greitens his cronies' special corporate welfare.

A night of compromise was highlighted by a deal to pull from state funds to protect in-home care for seniors and disabled people.

That measure takes money away from funds with more money than their operating expenses.

The compromise allowed the Missouri Senate to approve the budget 19 hours before the deadline.

Reporting from the state Captiol, I'm Jack Morrisroe.