JEFFERSON CITY - While Missouri continues to report revenue growth, the states still lags behind other states in repairing the dismal budget situation that was pushed to the forefront last year.

Despite a growing economy, states are still facing a combined deficit of $35 billion and don't expect to see full recovery for at least a few years.

JEFFERSON CITY - State Auditor Claire McCaskill, who is challenging Gov. Bob Holden in the August Democratic primary criticized the governor for waiting until last Friday to release money he had withheld from education. McCaskill says he could've released the money as early as last fall. But Holden says McCaskill is just playing politics. He says he released the money as soon as he got a memo from his budget director indicating it was fiscally responsible to do so.

JEFFERSON CITY - The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to give an additional $20 million to higher education Wednesday. The committee also approved all of the budget bills, sending them on to the full Senate.

In comparison to the House budget, the Senate committee plan cut $13 million in general revenue from elementary and secondary education.

JEFFERSON CITY - The Governor addressed the crowd and says he will support their fight. The disabled groups spoke out for more money for medicaid, independent living, and personal assistant services.

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JEFFERSON CITY - By an overwhelming majority, the House approved legislation that would toughen state oversight of foster care. It includes provisions that gives administrators more authority to fire child-care regulators who violate state rules.

The measure also gives parents more rights in child-abuse cases.

The governor vetoed a similar bill last year.

JEFFERSON CITY - A House committee heard testimony that gives counties say how they spend "conceal and carry" permit fees. The bill would give counties the power to use the fees towards related expenses.

The committee took no immediate action on the bill. The governor has vowed he will veto the bill unless it gives Missouri voters the right to repeal the law.

JEFFERSON CITY - Warren County is home to a farm of 75 lions and tigers. Neighbors are urging legislators to make this illegal.

JEFFERSON CITY - A plan before the House Tax Policy would give individuals and corporations tax credits for donating to scholarship funds that allow poor kids to attend private schools. Advocates say it's necessary to give kids in failing schools a choice.

Opponents say the plan will give public money to private schools.

JEFFERSON CITY - The committee dealt primarily with defining medical terms during testimony on a bill banning human cloning research in Missouri. However, Dr. John Morris, a Rockhurst University professor, brought a human face to the issue.

JEFFERSON CITY - Opponents of the resolution say term limits are good because they lead to more women and more minorities in the legislature. Jacob, however, says there is no substitute for experience in politics.

JEFFERSON CITY - At a hastely scheduled news conference, Gov. Bob Holden announced release of the remaining $127 million he had been withholding from education.

For months, Holden had charged that the budget passed by the Republican-controlled budget was out of balance and that without tax increases, forced him to make the funding cuts to education.

On the other side, Republicans argued the rebound in the state's economy did not justify the education funding cuts. State tax collections have been running far higher than had been projected -- and far higher than necessary to fund the budget the legislature had passed last spring.

JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri State Auditor released an audit on children's safety.

One statistic said that nearly half of the cases reviewed were handled improperly by caseworkers, according to state policy.

JEFFERSON CITY - The House passed an $18.6 billion budget Wednesday that provides a bigger increase for education than the governor reccomended -- without tax increases.

The budget was passed on the same day that the Revenue Department released numbers showing that state revenue collections are up significantly.

JEFFERSON CITY - State education officials said Wednesday that increased local support through property taxes, as a result of Tuesday's statewide voting, could increase funding inequities. The problem lies in the formula itself, which rewards local funding effort with more state aid.

JEFFERSON CITY - Numbers released by the Revenue Department Wednesday show general revenue for the year is up 7.5 percent through March. When one-time federal money is excluded, general revenue is up 5.2 percent for the year.

JEFFERSON CITY - The House rejected an amendment taking money away from bond repayment and applying it to an Ethanol incentive program.

Supporters of the amendment say the 2 million supporters say it talkes only $10 million per year to repay the bonds sold for the Edward Jones Dome, but opponents say it would have been an irresponsible move.

JEFFERSON CITY - April 15 will be an especially key date for a House budget plan currently under construction. Earlier in the year, the House, Senate, and Gov. Holden agreed the state should expect about $6.4 billion in revenue, but the new House plan utilizes about $7 billion.

The difference between the two won't be known until the mid-April deadline, said State Budget Director Linda Luebbering. She did not rule out the Republican figures outright, saying there was not enough information at this point.

JEFFERSON CITY - Jason Crowell spoke in favor of a bill for a higher education budget. He says not only did the UM sytem's budget rise since 2000, but they made their students pay for a larger chunk of that budget.

JEFFERSON CITY - Republicans and Democrats engaged in raucous debate over the 2005 budget. The debate centered around appropriations for education.

JEFFERSON CITY - An act modifying safety standards for child car seats and bicycles makes seatbelt violations a primary offence. You could be pulled over simply for not wearing a seat belt, as long as the officer sees you.

JEFFERSON CITY - With over one hundred school districts asking their residents to approve increased taxation Tuesday, the public school funding debate could be significantly altered. In Tuesday's vote various tax increases are being subjected to widespread public approval -- or disapproval.

JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Bob Holden proposed a constitutional amendment today for what he says will protect health insurance for thousands of Missouri children.

But some Republican lawmakers say the governor's move ignores bigger budget issues and may be a way to bolster support for his campaign.

JEFFERSON CITY - The House Budget Committee passed a budget Monday totaling almost $18.5 million. The budget contains few substantial funding changes for state departments.

The full House is expected to take up the budget on Tuesday or Wednesday.