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Budget Stalled

JEFFERSON CITY - The debate over state funding for abortion services has sent the Health Department's budget back to conference committee for ironing out the differences before Friday's deadline.

Earlier this week, the House threw the budget back into conference for a technical correction on funding for pregnancy health services.

Thursday, the version of the budget that came back not only fixed the mistake -- but also, according to critics, opened the door to state funding for Planned Parenthood.

"The will of the House is that Planned Parenthood should not receive state funding," said Assistant Minority Floor Leader Don Lograsso, R-Blue Springs.

"The votes are here to do as we will. It's the House and Senate versus the conferees. It's our intention to go to the wall on this."

So, budget conferees went back late Thursday to draft yet another plan for the $1.5 million budget item so the legislature could finish work on the $13.8 billion operating budget.

The legislature faces a 6pm, May 10 deadline to complete action on the budget.