The House Budget committee is making little progress on closing the state's 500 million dollar shortfall.
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The House Budget committee is making little progress on closing the state's 500 million dollar shortfall.

Date: March 18, 2010
By: Alex Klingelhoeffer
State Capitol Bureau

Intro:  Thursday brought more bad budget news as the House Budget Committee made little progress closing the state's 500 million dollar budget shortfall.
RunTime:  0:38
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: After a day of finding ways to cut the state's fiscal year 2011 budget, the House Budget Committee gained little ground.

St. Joseph Republican Dr. Robert Schaaf said he was disappointed with the committee's efforts so far.

Actuality:  SCHAAF.WAV
Run Time:  00:14
Description: "Apparently we disagree on how our legislature should operate. The house body should not be expected to make $145 million dollars in cuts when we in this room are not willing to make them"

House members denied Schaff's proposal to cut $88 million in public school funding including a $27 million cut from the Parents as Teachers program.

From the Capitol, I'm Alex Klingelhoeffer

Intro:  The House Budget committee made few cuts to help the 500 million dollar budget deficit Thursday.
RunTime:  0:44
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Committee members considered more than 250 amendments in an effort to close the gap in the state's fiscal year 2011 budget.

But, most of those amendments did not make significant cuts.

St. Louis County Republican Budget Chair Alan Icet said he does expect to receive $300 million in Federal Medicaid money.

Icet said budgeting is a long process.

Actuality:  ICETBUD2.WAV
Run Time:  00:10
Description: Every budget is wrong. Whether it's wrong on the high side or wrong on the low side we're dealing with estimates so when you get down to brass tax I think you can make the argument that the budget is balanced.
 

St. Joseph Republican Dr. Robert Schaaf headlined an effort to make big cuts. 

Schaaf was unsuccessful in making an 88 million dollar cut to public education and an 8.5 million dollar cut in Amtrak funding.

From the State Capitol, I'm Alex Klingelhoeffer.