Senate President Pro Tem ... Caution is Key.

Intro:	While Governor Nixon talked optimistically about the state's budget situation, top Republicans weren't convinced.
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Wrap: Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields expressed caution after Governor Nixon promised more tax credits.

And Shields says it isn't fiscal year 2010 that has him worried.

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Description: "Fiscal year 2012 is gonna be worse because that's when we run out of federal stimulus dollars and face a very challenging situation, so I would be extremely careful about handing out tax credits this year, knowing that we've got problems down the road."

Other responses came from Senate Republican floor leader. He said the governor didn't address where he was pulling money for new programs.

However the Senate Minority floor leader said Nixon's speech raised his hopes for the fiscal year.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Christine Slusser.

Intro:	A top Republican says Governor Nixon is spending money the state doesn't have.
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Wrap: Senate Majority Floor Leader Kevin Engler says Missourians will pay if the budget doesn't get balanced.

Engler says the money proposed to expand programs will make other programs suffer.

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Description: "We're already gonna be probably quarter billion, 500 million out of balance. How do you balance when you keep spending more money without firing people and shutting down mental health centers and correction centers and things? So it's a trade-off if you're gonna balance the budget."

However, the Senate Democratic floor leader remained optimistic about Missouri's future. He says Nixon has it under control.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Christine Slusser.

Intro:	The Senate Minority floor leader says the governor re-arranged tax credits rather than creating new ones.
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Wrap: Senator Victor Callahan says the Governor's State of the State raised his hopes about Missouri's future.

He says not all the tax credits were new, some were recycled...

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Description: "I think the Governor's plan re-evaluates the tax credit policy and re-directs some of current tax, for example, the MOSIRA proposal, that's a re-direction of existing structures."

MOSIRA is the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act, which is supposed to create funding for high-tech and scientific research jobs in the state.

However, the Senate Majority floor leader was not convinced. He says Missouri doesn't have the funding for these tax credits.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Christine Slusser.