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2003 Revenue Stories

• 12/15/2003: Newspaper Story - Money released by Gov. Bob Holden to Boone County school districts has left superintendents thankful, but wanting more.
• 12/15/2003: Newspaper Story - A prefiled bill for the 2004 legislative session has proposed a stamp tax on illegal drugs bought and sold in the state of Missouri.
• 12/15/2003: Radio Story - Missouri's House Budget Committee chairman agrees there could be a budget shortfall next year, but much smaller than the administration projections.
• 12/15/2003: Radio Story - State Budget Director Linda Luebbering says the governor is going to ask for tax increases in next year's budget. Meanwhile, Republican House Budget Committee Chairman Carl Bearden admits the state is facing a budget shortfall, but says Governor Holden is overestimating the deficit by almost $700 million.
• 12/11/2003: Radio Story - Former Public Service Commission chairman Kelvin Simmons will take over Missouri's Department of Economic Development after long-time director Joe Driskill resigned amid investigations into fraud in a tax credit program overseen by the department.
• 12/ 9/2003: Radio Story - The Missouri Supreme Court today unanimously dismissied a lawsuit challenging the power of the governor to withhold money from the education budget.
• 12/ 8/2003: Radio Story - The Missouri Dept. of Revenue reports that state tax revenues have increased nearly six percent compared to last year. However, State Budget Director Linda Luebbering says it is unlikely more withholdings will be released.
• 12/ 8/2003: Newspaper Story - Of the $190 million in No Child Left Behind Title I funds, almost none is going to Missouri high schools. Instead, the money is going to lower grades, where it will better improve students' performance, officials say.
• 12/ 8/2003: Radio Story - Mental Health employees find themselves at the bottom of the totem poll when it comes to raises.
• 12/ 3/2003: Newspaper Story - Missouri's Supreme Court was told the governor's withholding of funds from public schools violates the state's constitution.
• 12/ 3/2003: Newspaper Story - For school districts seeking to get state money withheld from education, it's now a waiting game.
• 12/ 2/2003: Radio Story - Toll roads would go up on I-70, I-44 and some Missouri bridges if voters decide toll ways are needed. People who travel on these roads would be paying the toll so no tax increases will occur.
• 12/ 2/2003: Newspaper Story - The director of the state's Transportation Department announced his intention to step down from the agency next year. Henry Hungerbeeler's resignation comes just weeks after an independent citizens panel appointed by the state's Highways and Transportation Commission recommended management change at the highest levels of MoDOT.
• 12/ 2/2003: Radio Story - Gov. Bob Holden announced Tuesday that he will release $83 million dollars to education, after the state received federal aid money earlier than expected.
• 12/ 1/2003: Newspaper Story - A legal battle over withholdings to K-12 education that began in July makes its way to the highest court in the state Wednesday.
• 12/ 1/2003: Radio Story - The Taxpayers' Research Institute of Missouri and Associated Industries have the results of their year-long study: gambling is good for the economy.
• 12/ 1/2003: Newspaper Story - Prefiling for Missouri's legislatures 2004 session began on Monday. Issues range from gambling to tuition cost, from veils to cloning.
• 11/19/2003: Newspaper Story - Leading Missouri Republicans have criticized a proposal that would require increases in sales tax rates when state revenue falls below a prescribed level. The measure, turned into the Secretary of State's office by a group of lobbyists, ignores needed reforms and simply seeks new sources of tax revenue, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gibbons said.
• 11/19/2003: Newspaper Story - Several legislators said MoDOT making some good changes after the departments report before a joint committee.
• 11/19/2003: Radio Story - MODOT will ask for toll road authority. Also, a bill passed by a committee chaired by Sen. Kit Bond would raise more than one billion dollars for MODOT if it passes through Congress.
• 11/17/2003: Newspaper Story - A petition posted by republicans on the state house of representatives website raised Democrats' concerns on Monday. The petition calls on people across Missouri to support the release of $197 million in withholdings to K-12 education.
• 11/17/2003: Radio Story - Governor Holden blamed Republicans for misleading Missourians about the budget. He says that their lack of solving the budget problem in both special sessions is why education has suffered cuts. He says that the House leaders have been dishonest for political reasons.
• 11/17/2003: Newspaper Story - Some Missouri vehicle owners are driving down state revenue because they are not paying sales taxes, Revenue Director Carol Fisher said. Drivers who steal license plates or drive with expired tags have cost the state about $90 million. The Revenue Department has raised the possibility of requiring sales taxes for vehicles be paid at the time of purchase, which would alleviate the debt from those who buy their vehicles from dealerships, Fisher said.
• 11/17/2003: Newspaper Story - Gov. Holden accused House Republicans for skewing budget figures when they started a petition for Holden to release more money to education due to revenue increases.
• 11/13/2003: Radio Story - Missouri is one of five states that aren't spending any of the money they recieve from tobacco companies on smoking prevention programs.
• 11/12/2003: Radio Story - The state attorney general's office announced Wed. it is investigating phantom businesses created to abuse a state tax credit program.
• 11/12/2003: Newspaper Story - The Missouri Attorney General's office announced Wednesday that it is investigating tax credit fraud of a program run by the state Department of Economic Development. The program offers tax credits to businesses for computer equipment. It seeks to attract high-tech businesses to poor areas. "Phantom businesses" have allegedly abused the system. "We were not asleep at the switch," director of economic development Joe Driskill said.
• 11/10/2003: Newspaper Story - Instead of using tobacco prevention funds to run a program, Missouri's Health Department used its $500,000 to run a statewide survey of health risks.
• 11/10/2003: Radio Story - The Missouri school system attempted to get more money for education by bringing their case to a judge. The judge ruled on behalf of Governor Holden, saying that he is obligated in the state's Constitution to prevent expenditures from exceeding revenues.
• 11/10/2003: Newspaper Story - A Cole County circuit court upheld Gov. Bob Holden's power to withhold $190 million from state funding to local schools because of estimated revenue shortages. Attorneys for the challenging school districts said that they would appeal the decision.
• 11/ 6/2003: Radio Story - After a sluggish October for the Missouri economy, figures indicate little hope that withholdings will be released to funding starved programs.
• 11/ 5/2003: Newspaper Story - Missouri taxpayer dollars are not as secure as they should be, a state audit reports. The state accounting system, known as SAM II, is accessible via old user IDs of former employees. The system also lacks proper recovery procedures in case of fire or computer malfunctions. Background checks have also found financially-related criminal histories for some employees who can enter and retrieve information in the system.
• 11/ 5/2003: Newspaper Story - Columbia's legislators plan to prefile bills concerning issues such as gay rights, rock climbing walls, and toll roads.
• 11/ 4/2003: Radio Story - General revenue collections decreased in October after previous months had increases in revenue. Withholdings probably won't be released according to state officials.
• 11/ 4/2003: Radio Story - The Missouri Department of Revenue released a report stating that general revenue collections have dropped a little over four percent in October.
• 11/ 4/2003: Radio Story - After more than eight months of study, an independent expert panel submitted its recommendations to MoDOT for how the department can cure its ills.
• 10/30/2003: Radio Story - The independent blue ribbon panel says the state doesn't have the money to pay for needed improvments any other way.
• 10/30/2003: Radio Story - Missouri has the third worst road conditions and this has ruined MoDOT's credibility
• 10/30/2003: Radio Story - Candidates add to the public's diminished confidence in MoDOT
• 10/29/2003: Newspaper Story - Missouri's tax laws have not kept up with its economy. While state businesses are increasingly service-oriented, the tax code remains based on manufacturing industry. The result is a service industry that remains largely untaxed.
• 10/28/2003: Radio Story - The IRS can't deliver tax refund checks worth $1.2 million to 2500 Missouri taxpayers. The checks are for general refund and child tax credits.
• 10/21/2003: Radio Story - Missouri roads are among the worst in the nation and critics charge the problem lies with the misallocation of tax dollars.
• 10/14/2003: Radio Story - The latest candidate is the fourth Republican to enter the race, and he promises to create jobs by investing the state's assets in Missouri.
• 10/ 8/2003: Newspaper Story - A planned lawsuit against the state's system for financing local schools is dividing Missouri's school districts.
• 10/ 7/2003: Newspaper Story - Missouri state penitentiary redevelopment project master plan
• 10/ 7/2003: Radio Story - MoDOT is delaying the release of a report that faults the department's leadership.
• 10/ 6/2003: Newspaper Story - House Budget Committee Chairman Carl Bearden, R-St. Charles, said some of Gov. Bob Holden's withholdings should be released because of increased state revenue. State budget director said the revenue increases are not enough.
• 10/ 3/2003: Radio Story - The Missouri Department of Revenue released a report saying that general revenue collection for the first quarter has increased about eight percent from last year
• 9/24/2003: Newspaper Story - W.B. "Bart" Tichenor, chief hearing officer for the Missouri Tax Commission, has frustrated county assessors throughout the state by ruling against them in 45 straight cases. Tichenor has ruled in favor of businesses that appeal appraisals of their personal property, which they say has been overvalued. Assessors say Tichenor's rulings are costing local governments tax revenue.
• 9/24/2003: Radio Story - Represenative Harold Selby says he wants campaign contribution tax to go to schools.
• 9/24/2003: Newspaper Story - The man whose efforts led to the largest tax increase in the history of Missouri is once again preparing to challenge the constitutionality of Missouri's school funding system. Alex Bartlett is representing more than 200 school districts across the state struggling to find resources in light of cutbacks to education.
• 9/23/2003: Radio Story - Latest school funding lawsuit aims to challenge school funding on Constitutional 'adequacy' grounds
• 9/23/2003: Radio Story - Missouri revenue collections have increased, but state legislators say that this is not enough to cover the budget.
• 9/23/2003: Radio Story - Officals say the Missouri Art Council has lost all funds and will close in two years without new funding.
• 9/22/2003: Newspaper Story - Missouri general revenue collections are up 6.1 percent in July and August over the same period last year. Officials say this is does not mark the end of state budget woes.
• 9/22/2003: Newspaper Story - The Missouri Department of Revenue has announced general revenue in July and August is 6.1 percent greater than the same period last year. However, several government officials have warned this is not the resolution to state budget woes.
• 9/17/2003: Newspaper Story - Statehouse bathrooms are being renovated for $3 million during budget crisis
• 9/11/2003: Radio Story - The governor expressed disappointment today over the legislative defeat of his eduation tax plan.
• 9/11/2003: Radio Story - The governor unveiled Missouri's new anti-terrorism license plate today during a special ceremony.
• 9/11/2003: Radio Story - Holden's plan to increase funding for education defeated in Senate committee
• 9/11/2003: Radio Story - The GOP controlled Senate killed the governor's plan for increasing revenue to fund education.
• 9/ 9/2003: Radio Story - Gov. Bob Holden is asking for the closure of the complicated Geoffrey Loophole to fund education.
• 9/ 8/2003: Newspaper Story - Both chambers of the Missouri General Assembly convened at noon today in the State Capitol. Only a few bills were introduced.
• 9/ 8/2003: Radio Story - As the special session gets underway, lawmakers consider raising taxes on business to boost funding for elementary and secondary education.
• 9/ 8/2003: Newspaper Story - Gov. Holden has proposed eliminating the so-called "Geoffrey Loophole," which allows some corporations doing business in Missouri to not pay income taxes. Republicans say Holden will drive away business.
• 9/ 4/2003: Radio Story - The State Chamber of Commerce is launching an effort against Governor Holden's latest tax proposal.
• 9/ 3/2003: Newspaper Story - Repeal of local school dependence on the local property tax was one of the issues raised by the chairman of a special legislative committee that began Tuesday reviewing school financing.
• 9/ 3/2003: Newspaper Story - Republicans condemned Gov. Bob Holden's proposal to close four corporate tax loopholes. The plan would earn more than $40 million in revenue for public schools. However, Republicans oppose such tax increases and question why Holden withdrew $197 million from funds appropriated for education.
• 7/ 1/2003: Radio Story - Department director Joe Driskill says more people are going back to work and businesses are returning to profitability.
• 6/26/2003: Radio Story - Bills are identical to education budget already vetoed by the Governor.
• 6/18/2003: Radio Story - Republican legislative leaders says the budget reflects what voters want and is within the state's means. House Speaker Catherine Hanaway urged the Governor to sign the budget.
• 6/16/2003: Radio Story - House speaker Catherine Hanaway says Holden doesn't have support from Republicans or Democrats for more taxes.
• 6/ 5/2003: Radio Story - Democratic governor Bob Holden, House Speaker Catherine Hanaway and Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder reiterated their position on the budget in speeches to the House.
• 6/ 3/2003: Radio Story - Republican lawmakers say hours of testimony from social services advocates and public school officials have not made them more supportive of higher taxes.
• 6/ 3/2003: Radio Story - The House Budget committee heard from public education advocates who say budget cuts will devestate schools.
• 5/30/2003: Radio Story - Holden says he thinks now that legislators have been back in their districts and can hear about the effects of budget cuts firsthand, they might be more receptive to the idea of tax increase.
• 5/21/2003: Radio Story - Hanaway says Holden is launching a "campaign of terror" to scare people into voting for tax increases.
• 5/19/2003: Radio Story - Holden says the people of Missouri should have the chance to consider tax increases to avoid cuts.
• 5/16/2003: Radio Story - Missouri lawmakers end their session but they're not sure it's the end of their work.
• 5/15/2003: Radio Story - As part of the lobbying effort, elderly citizens are calling freshmen republicans in the House, urging them to put a tax package before voters.
• 5/13/2003: Newspaper Story - With three days left in the session, the Republican leaders said they were disapointed that the governor has not indicated whether he will call a special session.
• 5/13/2003: Radio Story - During a meeting with Republican legislative leaders, the governor did not specify whether or not he'll call lawmakers into a special session.
• 5/ 9/2003: Newspaper Story - Republicans say safety net intact, despite cuts to Medicaid, disabled
• 5/ 9/2003: Radio Story - The legislature's work on the budget is done but they don't know if it's a done deal.
• 5/ 8/2003: Radio Story - One of the biggest points of contention in the budget debate centered on funding for elementary and secondary education.
• 5/ 8/2003: Radio Story - The African-American members of the senate have leveled charges of discrimination against Senate Republican leaders.
• 5/ 8/2003: Radio Story - Bland accuses the Senate Republican leadership of discrimination when choosing members of the Appropriations Conference Committee.
• 5/ 8/2003: Newspaper Story - House and Senate pass education budgets
• 5/ 7/2003: Newspaper Story - Education cuts would be minimized but the Department of Social Services would suffer cuts in the budget passed out of conference committee today. The plan requires $150 million in additional revenue to be in balance.
• 5/ 7/2003: Radio Story - Budget negotiators from the House and Senate reach a compromise though some Democratic lawmakers say the latest budget plan contains cuts that go too deep.
• 5/ 6/2003: Radio Story - As many as ten state representatives are missing out on budget negotiations at the state capitol because they're helping clean up storm damage in their districts.
• 5/ 6/2003: Radio Story - Lawmakers reached an agreement on how to proceed with budget negotiations between the House and Senate.
• 5/ 5/2003: Newspaper Story - The UM would lose share of the state's funding for higher education, while four colleges in Republican districts would gain under Senate budget plan
• 4/30/2003: Newspaper Story - The Senate rejected proposed increase's in Missouri's sales and corporate income tax laws, before agreeing on a plan to raise $122 million in new revenue
• 4/29/2003: Radio Story - Missouri's House has passed tougher fines and investigations for problem nursing homes--but without a provision that carried an $80 million fiscal note.
• 4/29/2003: Newspaper Story - In response to the shrinking space for new inmates, a measure that would decrease prison sentences for "non-violent" offenders came before a House committee Tuesday.
• 4/29/2003: Newspaper Story - The Senate passed a bill that would make Medicaid services available only if money is appropriated.
• 4/29/2003: Radio Story - If a bill in the House passes, the statewide law for Sunday liquor sales could be moved up to 9am, while Kansas City and St. Louis' start time could be 8am.
• 4/29/2003: Radio Story - Lawmakers seek another way to address state budget crisis.
• 4/28/2003: Radio Story - The House gave overwhelming approval to a bill that would set aside a portion of the tobacco settlement for life sciences research.
• 4/28/2003: Radio Story - In exchange for the incentives, Ford would be required to invest $500 million in the state.
• 4/23/2003: Newspaper Story - The University of Missouri System would lose $44 million under cuts to higher education approved by the Senate Tuesday. Democrats say the approved 6.7 percent or $50 miliion in cuts to the state's colleges and universities would cause steep hikes in tuition and many layoffs at a time when the state's higher education institutions are already in peril.
• 4/23/2003: Radio Story - The senate approved a higher education budget that is $84 million less than what lawmakers appropriated last year.
• 4/23/2003: Newspaper Story - Senate approves cuts to colleges, prisons, mental health care, and social services, despite Holden veto threat
• 4/22/2003: Radio Story - As the senate began its work on the budget, the debate quickly became partisan.
• 4/22/2003: Newspaper Story - Senate approves education portion of budget
• 4/21/2003: Newspaper Story - Under the cloud of a budget-veto threat not heard in Missouri's capitol in decades, the Senate is scheduled to begin debate today on the state's operating budget.
• 4/17/2003: Newspaper Story - The Missouri legislature's Republican leadership delivered a personal message to Gov. Bob Holden that lawmakers would not accept his tax-increase package.
• 4/17/2003: Radio Story - The Senate unanimously passed a bill that gives the Hazelwood Ford plant tax breaks. The bill was passed in hopes that the plant will now be able to remain open.
• 4/17/2003: Newspaper Story - Education takes the brunt of budget cuts as passed Thursday by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee recommended slicing a combined $361 million from education to help solve the state's 2004 budget woes.
• 4/16/2003: Radio Story - The Senate Appropriations Committee heard a proposal to close the Boonville and Chillicothe prisons.
• 4/16/2003: Radio Story - Senate budget writers consider the impact of closing two state prison.
• 4/16/2003: Radio Story - A new audit shows the way the state distributes money to public school districts is inequitable.
• 4/16/2003: Radio Story - A new audit shows the state is not equitably distributing money to school districts.
• 4/15/2003: Radio Story - Some members of the Senate Appropriations Committee held a private meeting to find ways to increase revenue to balance next year's budget.
• 4/15/2003: Newspaper Story - Missouri lost more jobs last year than any other state, a statistic that the Missouri Chamber of Commerce said is cause for a state of emergency. But some say other economic indicators show Missouri's economy is not a cause for concern.
• 4/15/2003: The state's schools would take a third of a billion dollar cut in state aid and its colleges and universities would see their budgets trimmed by 11 percent.
• 4/15/2003: Radio Story - Missouri lost more jobs than any other state in the nation, according to Chambers of Commerce
• 4/14/2003: Radio Story - Holden's plan included both program cuts and tax increases to address the budget shortfall.
• 4/ 9/2003: Newspaper Story - Mandatory prison sentences would be reduced as part of a comprehensive sentencing reform bill approved by the Missouri Senate
• 4/ 8/2003: Newspaper Story - With many areas of Missouri in need of new roads and bridges and the Missouri Department of Transportation without any new revenue options, quiet talk of toll roads has been floating around the legislature.
• 4/ 8/2003: Radio Story - Some department directors say the lump sum appropriation isn't all bad.
• 4/ 4/2003: Radio Story - The House passed a bill on to the Senate that would give tax breaks on generic drugs and property assessment increases to senior citizens.
• 4/ 4/2003: Radio Story - The House passed a bill to give tax breaks to senior citizens on property and home assessments.
• 4/ 3/2003: Newspaper Story - Funerals and retirement parties are just a few of the places state officials have flown on the taxpayers' dime, according to State Auditor Clare McCaskill. In a report released Thursday, McCaskill details her department's year-long audit of state passenger plane use from 1999-2001.
• 4/ 2/2003: Newspaper Story - Attorney General's office refuses to rule out helping tobacco industry in Illinois case
• 4/ 1/2003: Radio Story - Bars and truck stops machines would generate revenue for higher ed
• 4/ 1/2003: Radio Story - If the bill passes the full senate, video gambling machines will be placed in Missouri businesses as a method of generating revenue.
• 4/ 1/2003: Newspaper Story - Senate Ways and Means Committee defeats Sen. Jacob's proposal for the state to keep Hancock refunds
• 4/ 1/2003: Newspaper Story - The senate Ways and Means Committee passed a bill that would allow video gambling machines to operate in secured establishments such as bars and truck stops. Revenue from the machines would be placed into a trust fund for higher education.
• 4/ 1/2003: Radio Story - Sen. Dolan's transportation oversight bill didn't end up with many of his major initiatives--but Dolan says it's still a step in the right direction.
• 3/31/2003: Newspaper Story - Senate committee set to pass two-part budget
• 3/19/2003: Newspaper Story - Analysis: Online Sales Erode State Revenues
• 3/19/2003: Radio Story - The House passed a series of budget bills on Wednesday which give lump sums of cash to department heads to choose which programs get funding.
• 3/18/2003: Radio Story - House debate on the Republican budget plan erupted into yelling as democratic lawmakers expressed their opposition.
• 3/18/2003: Newspaper Story - House gives first approval to budget
• 3/17/2003: Newspaper Story - War Clouds Obscure Missouri's Budget, Economic Outlook
• 3/17/2003: Radio Story - One economist says Missouri's high credit rating could make it an attractive investment.
• 3/13/2003: Newspaper Story - In a straight party line vote, the House Budget Committee Thursday approved a Republican-backed budget plan that would mean $382 million in new cuts for education in 2004. Democrats, including Gov. Bob Holden, denounced the plan, accusing Republicans of not doing their job.
• 3/13/2003: Radio Story - Democrats say they were misled
• 3/12/2003: Newspaper Story - The House leadership's budget plan would give up the "power of the purse" in exchange for overall spending cuts
• 3/12/2003: Radio Story - Both departments says House plan would result in program cuts. Associate Director for the Department of Social Services says the plan could affect access to health care for seniors.
• 3/11/2003: Radio Story - A proposed sales tax holiday for back-to-school shopping gets first round approval from the Missouri Senate.
• 3/10/2003: Newspaper Story - After first round of cutting, Republican budget alternative still $372 million from balanced
• 3/ 7/2003: Newspaper Story - Driver licensing offices that handle 30 percent of Missouri's motorists would close if a Republican proposal gets final approval
• 3/ 5/2003: Newspaper Story - Missouri's budget outlook is among the ten worst in the country, according to the National Conference of State Legislators
• 3/ 4/2003: Newspaper Story - Republican leaders called for an inverstigation of an alleged DNR gag order by the Joint Committee on Legislative Research.
• 3/ 3/2003: Radio Story - Kinder says the Governor failed to address issues that are important to business owners and employees, such as worker's compensation.
• 3/ 3/2003: Newspaper Story - Missouri's budget is to tight, the crumbling State Penitentiary may have to stay open another year
• 3/ 3/2003: Radio Story - Holden would only say that he did not ask state employees to avoid questions about his budget plan. Holden has not responded to House Speaker Catherine Hanaway's demand that he address state employees directly on the gag order.
• 2/27/2003: Newspaper Story - After publicly threatening education budget cuts if he did not get his way from the legislature, Gov. Bob Holden chose to make his final budget withholdings in private, at the end of the day, as state offices were being closed.
• 2/24/2003: Newspaper Story - Former budget director James Moody says Missouri's budget problems are set to grow "exponentially" worse unless radical steps are taken.
• 2/19/2003: Newspaper Story - The House Education Appropriations Committee cut $107.9 million from primary and secondary education, while taking only $3.7 million from higher education for fiscal year 2004.
• 2/19/2003: Radio Story - Senate proposes issuing general revenue bonds instead of using tobacco settlement money.
• 2/19/2003: Newspaper Story - Missouri's Senate agreed to go along with a House plan limiting the amount of borrowed money the governor could use this fiscal year at $150 million
• 2/18/2003: Radio Story - A Senate committe has sent the House's $150 million compromise on borrowing from tobacco settlement funds to the Senate floor.
• 2/17/2003: Newspaper Story - New House budget chairman seeks fiscal reform
• 2/17/2003: Radio Story - The House does not include proposed taxes in revenue estimates. So, the spending cutbacks are higher than the Governor's estimates, which include the proposed taxes.
• 2/13/2003: Radio Story - Gov. Bob Holden urges the Senate to increase the size of the debt approveed by the House to salvage the education budget.
• 2/13/2003: Newspaper Story - A late-night compromise between House leaders and governor leads to approval of $150 million in tobacco money.
• 2/12/2003: Newspaper Story - In a party line vote, the House approves less than half the governor's request for tobacco money
• 2/11/2003: Newspaper Story - House gives initial approval to Classroom Trust Fund
• 2/11/2003: Radio Story - House gives first round approval to Classroom Trust Fund.
• 2/10/2003: Radio Story - Holden says Republicans need to agree to more spending from tobacco settlement fund this fiscal year.
• 2/10/2003: Newspaper Story - The Governor and Republican legislators have agreed to half the budget riddle, but are still $162 million apart
• 2/ 4/2003: Radio Story - The GOP plan calls for spending $100 million in tobacco funds, along with $250 million in other savings. Gov. Holden says he'll consider the plan.
• 2/ 4/2003: Newspaper Story - MU is feeling the pinch of a too-tight budget that may leave a permanent mark on the school. UM President Elson Floyd voiced concerns about a loss of competitive edge that will negatively affect MU long after the end of the fiscal year.
• 2/ 4/2003: Newspaper Story - Republicans announce a different plan to fill $350 million budget shortfall.
• 2/ 3/2003: Newspaper Story - Anti-tobacco critics question Missouri's use of the tobacco settlement to close its budget shortfall
• 1/29/2003: Newspaper Story - Democrats accuse Republicans of failing to support the governor's budget resolution plan, or to propose a viable alternative of their own.
• 1/28/2003: Newspaper Story - Missouri's Education Department Commissioner predicted that the education budget cuts proposed by the governor could force cuts in school personnel.
• 1/28/2003: Newspaper Story - Holden promises cuts to primary, secondary and higher education if the budget shortfall is not met with tobacco money.
• 1/27/2003: Newspaper Story - Governor Bob Holden is vowing to cut state funding for schools and universities by 10 percent unless the legislature passes a tobacco bond.
• 1/23/2003: Newspaper Story - In a nearly unanimous vote, Missouri lawmakers rejected a proposal to raise salary caps for themselves and other state elected officials Thursday. But the vote was largely symbolic. Even if the proposal had passed, funding for higher caps would have required a separate bill.
• 1/21/2003: Newspaper Story - Members of Missouri's Senate Appropriations Committee raised questions about key parts of the administration's budget-balancing plan.
• 1/10/2003: Radio Story - A new California law giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants won't undermine Missouri licenses standards, but it does have implications for anti-crime, anti-terror, and immigration control efforts.
• 1/ 4/2003: Radio Story - General revenue is down over four percent for the month of October. Even though revenue is down, overall revenue collections for the year is up.
• 1/ 4/2003: Radio Story - General revenue is down over four percent for the month of October. Even though revenue is down, overall revenue collections for the year is up.
• 1/ 4/2003: Radio Story - General revenue is down over four percent for the month of October. Even though revenue is down, overall revenue collections for the year is up.
• 1/ 4/2003: Radio Story - The Missouri Department of Revenue released a report stating that general revenue collections have dropped a little over four percent in October.
• 1/ 4/2003: Radio Story - The Missouri Department of Revenue released a report stating that general revenue collections have dropped a little over four percent in October.
• 1/ 4/2003: Radio Story - The Missouri Department of Revenue released a report stating that general revenue collections have dropped a little over 4 percent in October.