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Health & Fitness

Governor Nixon Continues to Withhold Money from State Operating Budget

Members of the General Assembly took issue with Governor Nixon Thursday following an announcement Nixon was releasing only a portion of the $400 million he had withheld from the state budget.  I was very disappointed that the governor continues to play political games with the funding that was originally withheld to exert political pressure on lawmakers to sustain the veto of the tax cut legislation.

 

The governor blamed his withholding of funds for education, mental health and senior services on the potential override of the first income tax cut in nearly a century.  He promised he would immediately release all of the money he needlessly withheld if the veto was not overridden.  Well, the veto was not overridden and he continues to withhold money for programs such as the Early Childhood Literacy Program.

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Gov. Nixon made the decision in June to withhold more than $400 million from the state budget approved by lawmakers, even though the funds were available as Missouri ended its fiscal year with a surplus. That figure included $66.4 million in funding for K-12 education, $33.7 million for higher education, $45.7 million for Medicaid provider rate increases and mental health services. While those areas were included in the money released by the governor Thursday, another $185 million remains in limbo as the governor continues to play games with the state operating budget.

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I was also critical of the governor’s decision to withhold $1 million in funding for the Pike-Lincoln Technical center contained in HB 19, which was vetoed by the governor but overridden by the legislature Wednesday.  The Pike-Lincoln Technical center was destroyed by fire in 2011.  The center trains students for jobs in computer and networking technology, practical nursing, diesel technology, welding technology, building trades and several other occupations.

 

“For the governor to immediately withhold this money for education after a supermajority in both chambers of the General Assembly voted to override his veto is unconscionable,” added Rep. Rick Stream, House Budget Chairman. “This is yet another example of a decision made to play a political game rather than to do what is in the best interests of Missouri citizens. I call on the governor to end these games and release these funds to train and educate students immediately.”

 

The House Budget Chairman said some of the remaining $185 million being withheld by the governor includes funding for the Pike-Lincoln Technical center, an early childhood literacy program, prisoner re-entry program to reduce their recidivism rate, facilities maintenance and repair, State Capitol renovations and new additions to the aging Fulton State Mental Hospital.

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