Budget week has arrived at the Missouri Capitol as state lawmakers work to send a final version of the state’s $50 billion spending plan to the governor.
State Representative Betsy Fogle of Springfield is among the Democratic lawmakers appointed to help hammer out the finished product:
"My hope is always that we walk out of that room with a better version of the budget that we're going into it to. I'm hopeful that we can take some of the Senate positions on items that are important to myself in my caucus,” Fogle tells reporters
For example, the Senate reversed the Missouri House’s decision to fund universities based on enrollment, which could strip millions in funding to Truman State, Harris-Stowe State, and Lincoln universities.
Fogle is one of the budget negotiators from the Missouri House. She says her priority is finding more dollars for K-through-12 public schools:
“We have two proposals in front of us, the House version of the budget that uses the blind pension and gambling money, the Senate version of the budget that uses the Capital Commission dollars," Fogle explains. "Arguably, we could use both and fully fund or get very close to fully funding our foundation formula. That's what I will be fighting for in the conference room. I would imagine that will not be the will of the majority party.”
The Missouri House and Senate have until 6-PM Friday to send the state budget proposal to Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe.
Missourinet