Gov. Jay Nixon's budget plan for the state's next business year cuts another 800 jobs from the state's workforce and trims college and university budgets by more than 12 percent.--
But Nixon proposed a 2 percent across-the-board pay raise for all state employees, beginning next Jan. 1.--
During his 53-minute State of the State address Tuesday night, Nixon told a joint session of Missouri's Legislature that his balanced budget will help "keep moving Missouri forward."--
But Senate Appropriations Chairman Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, and President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, questioned the governor's claim his budget proposal is balanced.--
Schaefer said lawmakers would have to go through Nixon's plan, "line-by-line," to see where they can agree with Nixon and where they'll change the budget.--
Schaefer also said the higher education cuts are too deep, if Missouri wants to rely on education to help the state move forward.--And he wants to know more about where the state job cuts will come from before deciding if they're needed.
For expanded coverage, see our newspaper or e-Edition for Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012.
Online:
Archived video of Gov. Nixon's 2012 State of the State address
Earlier online coverage:
Nixon proposes higher ed cut, touts economy