Join brokers, agents and other benefit specialists for the Missouri Benefits Specialist Symposium, September 28-29 at the Doubletree Hotel at Westport. The program features nationally recognized speakers, more than 40 exhibitors and up to 8 CE credits approved for Illinois and Missouri.
The Governor has until today to sign or veto legislation passed during the 2017 State Legislative session. On the last day of the 2017 fiscal year, June 30, Governor Greitens signed the budget to begin the Fiscal Year 2018, July 1.
After weeks of filibusters, extreme infighting among Republicans, and a couple days grinding to a halt, the legislature passed 49 pieces of legislation plus the Budget bills. A record low.
The Missouri Senate’s journey to push out the state’s $27.8 billion budget has been a hurried effort, having received the bills later than usual, but Missouri’s upper chamber managed to knock out the budget with 24 hours to spare.
Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla, serves as the chairman of the Senate Appropriations committee and admitted that the budget this session was rather rushed, with the Senate having just 17 legislative days to work out the kinks. And there was plenty to be worked out, as members of both chambers still had strong feelings about certain items, perhaps none more so than the proposed cuts to in-home care and nursing services.
Activity in the Senate this week revolved around getting the budget bills passed on the floor. Senator Gary Romine (R-Farmington) shook the process by successfully amending the K-12 education bill to fully fund the state foundation formula. His amendment, which was opposed by Budget Chairman Dan Brown, received the necessary 18 votes and added an additional $45 million to the formula funding.