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The House debated for several hours on a meaningless bill

Debate on a relatively meaningless bill dragged down the Missouri House Wednesday night.

From Jefferson, Renny MacKay has more.

For about five hours on Wednesday the House debated a bill to set up a trust fund for money from the tobacco settlement. But, the bill does not have to be passed for the fund to be established... The governor can do it regardless.

That didn't stop members from both sides of the House from debating how to spend the tobacco money and where to keep it.

It all started when the House voted down a proposal by the bill's sponsor Democrat Tim Van Zandt. The proposal would've put any spending decision to a vote of the people.

All the changes to the bill the House made Wednesday can be taken out at a later time.

From the state capitol, I'm Renny MacKay.