Republican Brad Lager was asked to step down as committee chairman. Former vice-chairman Allen Icet, a Republican from St. Louis County, will take his spot. Lager remains on the committee, and Icet says he hopes the change won't be awkward.
"We are still doing many great things for this state," said House Budget Chairman Brad Lager, R-Maryville. "Many want to do more, we all recognize and acknowledge this, but at the end of the day, we can only help those with the greatest need."
Budget Committee Chairman Brad Lager, R-Maryville, said he believed the budget was fair, balanced and responsible while the ranking Minority member Rep. Frank Barnitz, D-Lake Spring, said cuts to social services unfairly target the lower income.
"What we have seen over the last 10 years is that you can never quench the thirst to grow government," said House Budget Committee Chairman Brad Lager, R-Maryville. "We will always have to find new measures to control that."
House Budget Chairman Brad Lager, R-Maryville, said he took no joy in the cuts but argued that the state lacked the money it once had and could not afford to increase spending education spending without cuts to social services.
Rookie House Budget Chairman Brad Lager, R-Maryville, said the Budget Committee had conducted a complete analysis of the state government, which was not possible under former Gov. Bob Holden because of disputes between the Republican led legislature and the Democratic governor.
But legislators are taking the cuts into their own hands. Budget Committee Chairman Brad Lager says there has been some discussion about Governor Blunt's proposed budget, but the House and Senate are working together to decide specifically where cuts should be made.