House committee begins hearings on budget
Published April 5, 2005
With the state budget deadline quickly approaching, the House of Representatives Budget Committee began a week of budget talks on Monday afternoon.
Committee meetings to discuss the 13 budget bills were scheduled throughout the day.
Talks are beginning later than in recent sessions. Traditionally, the House has sent the budget to the Senate by this time.
Rep. Judy Baker, D-Columbia, said the lengthy budgeting process will not allow for adequate debate on the House floor.
"What disappoints me the most is now it will have to go through relatively quickly," Baker said. "The crafters have had adequate time, but the 163 representatives haven't had adequate time to deliberate over the details of the bill. We only have a few more weeks, and this is the most important thing we're going to do."
Budget Chairman Brad Lager, R-Maryville, and other Republicans on the committee said they are taking their time crafting a budget.
The Appropriations-Education Subcommittee, on which Baker sits, submitted its proposal to the full Budget Committee on March 15.
The House then recessed for Spring Break and reconvened March 29. Budget bills were first introduced on March 30.
Staying true to Gov. Matt Blunt's recommendations, the UM system is slated to receive an appropriation identical to this year's appropriation. The new fiscal year begins July 1.
The bill concerning higher education funding, House Bill 3, would keep the UM system's funding at just more than $400 million.
The Budget Committee could change that number, however, during this week's hearings before the bill sees the House floor.
Lager promised last Thursday to spend the entire week on the budget, with hopes of passing the bills out of committee by the end of the week.
Baker said she is satisfied with the projected flat appropriation, though she said she would prefer a larger appropriation.
"I would give anything if we could do something different, but I think the realities of this year means that is the best we can do," Baker said. "I am confident that we can absorb one more year, but I am really concerned with future years and the long-term vision the administration has toward higher education."
Despite the Budget Committee hearings scheduled for this week, the budget still has a long way to go before it's passed.
After getting through committee, it must be debated on the House floor before being sent to the Senate. The Senate Appropriations Committee will consider the bills, then pass the budget to the Senate floor for debate.
The General Assembly has a deadline of May 6 to pass the budget bills.