Among Blunt's other appointments were Rob Monsees as the deputy chief of staff for policy and John Russell as the deputy chief of staff for administration.
Though the bond did receive initial approval from the Senate, another vote is needed before it can be finally sent to the House. Even that, said Sen. John Russell, R-Lebanon, could be a problem.
The committee also passed next year's budget and sent it to the Senate floor. Exact numbers for the committee's budget were not yet available, but Senate Appropriations Committee Chair John Russell, R-Lebanon, said the budget total is "in the same range" as that passed by the House.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair John Russell, R-Lebanon, will see the budget next. He said he did not think the House approach, which raises public education spending but leaves both costs and revenue projections in place, would likely be a viable solution.
But Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Sen. John Russell, R-Lebanon, said he did not think the House approach, which raised public education spending while leaving both costs and revenue projections in place, would likely solve the problem.
The debate over the bonding bill wore on the committee members' nerves. Committee Chair Sen. John Russell, R-Lebanon, said he was fed up with the bill that had hung over the appropriations committee for more than three weeks.
JEFFERSON CITY - The two longest-serving members of Missouri's legislature have crossed party lines to reach compromise on the budget, but the move has resulted in criticism from some party members. Sen. John Russell, R-Lebanon, and Sen. Wayne Goode, D-St. Louis County, have different constituencies but a similar approach to the appropriations process.
Sen. John Russell, R-Lebanon, said one of the key reasons for delaying action on the bill in the afternoon meeting was to allow people to gain some perspective on the legislation.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair John Russell, R-Lebanon, said schools have already made adjustments for this budget year so releasing the withholdings probably wouldn't affect them immediately, although schools would appreciate the additional money.
If Bartle, as well as the three Republicans from last year, vote with the Democrats for the revenue increases, the measures would receive a slim majority. Sen. John Russell, R-Lebanon, has also voiced support for tax increases.