Lembke fights stimulus money

Intro: The Senate passed a bill on federal stimulus money leaving one St. Louis lawmaker concerned.

Nathan Higgins has more from the State Capitol.

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The Senate voted on a stimulus bill that would give money to state departments and offices for general use and provide broadband access throughout the state.

If the money is not spent by the State, the feds will take the money back.

St. Louis Republican Senator Jim Lembke said he opposes the bill and fears the backlash of accepting stimulus money.

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Description: "I think it is the wrong thing to do to spend the money, the tax dollars of my children and my grandchildren, and my great-grandchildren and put them further into debt."

The passing of this bill goes along with President Obama's seven-point-two billion dollar broadband stimulus plan.

In Jefferson City, I'm Nathan Higgins, News Radio 11-20, KMOX.

Intro: One Senator opposed the Senate's attempts to pass a bill on federal stimulus money and instead focused on Internet access in rural areas.

Nathan Higgins has more from the State Capitol.

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Northwest Missouri Senator Brad Lager said he wanted better Internet access in rural Missouri during a Senate floor debate on a federal stimulus bill.

Lager, a Republican, said he did not want to see federal stimulus money go to internet providers.

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Description: "It is in my opinion that companies like CentruyTel and Embarq should not be allowed to receive these dollars and the reason I say that is because these are companies that made conscious decisions not to build in the rural parts of our state."

Lager said internet providers should make profits off their own investments, not federal stimulus money.

The majority of Senators supported the bill and it passed convincingly.

In Jefferson City, I'm Nathan Higgins, News Radio 11-20, KMOX.

Intro: One Senator voiced concern over a federal stimulus bill that the Senate passed convincingly.

Nathan Higgins has more from the State Capitol.

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If the Senate didn't pass the bill, some federal stimulus money given to Missouri would have gone to waste.

Instead, the Senate is one step closer to giving money to state departments and offices for general use.

Republican Senator Brad Lager opposed the bill, mainly over the issue of broadband Internet access.

Lager said he did not want to see companies like CenturyTel or Embarq receive stimulus money.

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Description: "That we're not taking these dollars and giving them to companies who made conscious decisions not to invest in rural areas, that they would not invest their own money there. But, now they want to take our tax dollars, invest our tax dollars, and make money on our tax dollars."

Most debate in the Senate centered on opposition to federal stimulus money.

In Jefferson City, I'm Nathan Higgins, News Radio 11-20 KMOX.