House compromise on tobacco money to go to the Senate floor

February 18, 2003
By: Megan Murphy
State Capital Bureau

The Governor's plan to put the state in debt to balance the budget is taking a step forward.

A Senate Committee has voted to send the House compromise on borrowing from tobacco lawsuit money to the Senate floor.

Senator Ken Jacob voted to move the compromise forward--but still says the plan won't help schools dealing with budget problems right now.

Actuality: KENJ1.WAV
RunTime: 19
OutCue: "go bust"


Contents: "Now we're right in the middle of a fiscal year for public schools and higher education, so they have contracts with teacher that they are not going to be able to fulfill. Republicans want to take that money from the bonds that we're selling today, shove it into the next fiscal year to help them with the budget next year and let this budget go bust."

Jacob proposed two amendments to increase the amount of money taken from tobacco settlement funds, but both were defeated.

In Jefferson City, Megan Murphy, KMOX News

A Senate Committee has sent the House compromise on borrowing from tobacco funds to the Senate floor.

The vote advances the Governor's plan which would put the state in debt to balance the budget.

Senator Ken Jacob proposed two amendments that would increase the amount borrowed from tobacco money.

But, both amendments were defeated.

Jacob says school districts need that extra money to ease the burden of cuts.

Actuality: KENJ2.WAV
RunTime: 14
OutCue: "150 million"


Contents: "For some reason, the Republicans after they approved of 175 last year, and even thought they know we need 263 million this year. They are only willing to accept 150 million.

Jacob says the lower amount will force 63 million dollars of cuts from public schools and 19 million from higher education.

In Jefferson City, Megan Murphy, KMOX News

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