But while House members were voting to send the budget back, Lt. Governor Joe Maxwell, Holden Chief of Staff Mike Hartmann, House Budget Committee Chairman Tim Green and various House budget leaders met privately to discuss the situation. The House Democrats announced they had decided to to break with Holden and send him a budget, however unbalanced.
Democratic Representative Tim Green, who chairs the Budget committee, first proposed an amendment lowering the amount to borrow from 75 million dollars to 53 million.
After that amendment was introduced, House Budget Committee Chairman Tim Green who had been defending the University throughout the day changed his mind.
House Budget Committee chairman Rep. Tim Green, D-St. Louis, said if the House sends an unbalanced budget to the Senate "people aren't willing to step up and make the cuts that need to be made."
Rep. Tim Green, the House Budget Committee Chair, warned against moving money from the supplemental funds, which are set aside for unforseen costs that occur after a fiscal year has begun. Green said those funds, which have already been cut by $40 million so far in the budget process, are used to reimburse health care providers under the state's Medicaid obligations. Further cuts to what is set aside could lower the amount paid to providers, possibly causing some to drop out of the pro..
In addition to funding, the University also lost some of its earlier legislative defenders. After a day of hearing criticism of UM, House Budget Chairman Tim Green, D-St. Louis County, said he would not oppose Hohulin's proposal.
Many legislators have said they are skeptical that use of the Rainy Day Fund will pass. House Budget Committee Chairman Tim Green, D-St. Louis County, sent a memorandum to members of the appropriations and budget committees, asking them to recommend budget cuts more extensive than what the governor had proposed, in case use of the fund does not pass.
House Budget Committee Chairman Tim Green said he would try to reinstate Holden's plan when the bill comes to the floor, but other Democratic lawmakers said there wasn't support for the fund sweep.