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Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on Tuesday released his proposed state budget, and his priorities for the upcoming legislative session during a speech before a joint legislative session. Here is some of the reaction from state lawmakers.
Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, said he wanted to hear more details from Nixon about his plans.
"I'd have liked to see more specifics, more leadership in how we balance this budget, not only for this year, making tough decisions now as we move forward into the future," Mayer said.
House Majority Leader Tim Jones, R-Eureka, said he was most surprised that he was not surprised about anything in the speech.
"I think that perhaps the governor was making more of a campaign speech tonight, speaking more to the moderate, middle, the independent voter, which decides all elections," Jones said. "This is an election year, there is going to be a lot of politics at play both in the Legislature and in the Governor's Mansion. And I think that's more of what I heard was more of a stump speech."
House Minority Leader Mike Talboy, D-Kansas, said he was pleased Nixon also called for restoring campaign donation limits and overhauling Missouri's tax credit programs.
"You have a pretty clear vision that the governor laid out, talking about jobs and the economy, talking about education, talking about some tough issues," Talboy said.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, criticized Nixon's proposal to cut spending for colleges and universities by 12.5 percent in the 2013 budget.
"It's just unacceptable, and I think when you look at the last three years, the pattern that you see is that this budget has been balanced for three straight years on the back of education," Scheafer said.
House Budget Committee Chairman Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City, said the proposed higher education budget cut would be difficult to accept. He said the governor's proposal to increase funding for K-12 education was marginal.
"I think it's a weird move. Obviously, it highlights that it's an election year. You're going to add 5 million to 3 billion and then crow about how it's the largest education budget in state history," Silvey said.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on Tuesday released his proposed state budget, and his priorities for the upcoming legislative session during a speech before a joint legislative session. Here is some of the reaction from state lawmakers.
Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, said he wanted to hear more details from Nixon about his plans.
"I'd have liked to see more specifics, more leadership in how we balance this budget, not only for this year, making tough decisions now as we move forward into the future," Mayer said.
House Majority Leader Tim Jones, R-Eureka, said he was most surprised that he was not surprised about anything in the speech.
"I think that perhaps the governor was making more of a campaign speech tonight, speaking more to the moderate, middle, the independent voter, which decides all elections," Jones said. "This is an election year, there is going to be a lot of politics at play both in the Legislature and in the Governor's Mansion. And I think that's more of what I heard was more of a stump speech."
House Minority Leader Mike Talboy, D-Kansas, said he was pleased Nixon also called for restoring campaign donation limits and overhauling Missouri's tax credit programs.
"You have a pretty clear vision that the governor laid out, talking about jobs and the economy, talking about education, talking about some tough issues," Talboy said.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, criticized Nixon's proposal to cut spending for colleges and universities by 12.5 percent in the 2013 budget.
"It's just unacceptable, and I think when you look at the last three years, the pattern that you see is that this budget has been balanced for three straight years on the back of education," Scheafer said.
House Budget Committee Chairman Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City, said the proposed higher education budget cut would be difficult to accept. He said the governor's proposal to increase funding for K-12 education was marginal.
"I think it's a weird move. Obviously, it highlights that it's an election year. You're going to add 5 million to 3 billion and then crow about how it's the largest education budget in state history," Silvey said.
