State budget director more concerned with defecit than shut down
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State budget director more concerned with defecit than shut down

Date: October 1, 2013
By: Brendan Cullerton
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
The state budget director says in the face of the government shut down, she is more concerned with a different federal deadline.
RunTime:  0:40
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Federal shut down means Missouri programs are losing money.

State budget director Linda Luebbering says essential programs like Medicaid are not in danger of being cut because they are not subject to annual funding.

But Luebbering says another deadline threatens to cut even those programs.

Actuality:  LUEBBS.WAV
Run Time:  00:08
Description: "If the debt limit is not worked out, there won't be federal funding available for much of anything."

Luebbering says parts of the education, public safety and economic development departments all stand to lose some funds because of the shut down,

but the state has enough money to hold out for a couple weeks before programs get cut.

Reporting from the state Capitol, Brendan Cullerton, newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: 
Missouri programs are already losing federal funding with the government shut down, but the state budget director says that's just the tip of the iceberg with how much funding Missouri could lose.
RunTime:  0:43
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Education, public safety, and senior services -- those are just some of the state department losing funding because of the shut down.

State budget director Linda Luebbering says departments have enough money saved to keep all programs provided the shut down doesn't last more than a few weeks.

But Luebbering says if the feds don't decide what to do with the debt ceiling in time, even programs like Medicaid and unemployment could be in serious danger.

Actuality:  LUEBBS2.WAV
Run Time:  00:09
Description: "We've not gotten specifics from the federal government yet about exactly what that would mean, but we do believe that that would have a larger impact on our programs."

If Congress fails to compromise, the government loses authority to borrow funds in mid-October.

Reporting from the state Capitol, Brendan Cullerton, newsradio 1120, KMOX.