KBIA Local
(2009-06-25)
COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
Governor Jay Nixon is cutting $100 million from the state budget. Most of the cuts came from a capital improvement projects bill. They include cutting nearly $25 million out of a statewide radio system for emergency responders, which will now make do with only $87 million.Among the projects that will not receive funding is the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. The governor did not veto the measure that would have provided about $32 million for construction -- instead he suspended it. Senator Kurt Schafer has been a major proponent of the project. Last week, he issued an urgent plea to residents asking them to let the governor know Ellis Fischel was important and it would be a devastating blow to the university, Columbia, and the state of Missouri, if funding for it was cut. Schafer says the community needs to be congratulated for their efforts.
"In one way we won the first round. I think the governor saw an outpouring of support from Columbia, Boone County, and the university in support of the project and so while he didn't veto it, we are on to the second round now which is the governor has made the decision that he is not going to release the money," Schafer said.
Schafer says the governor has $153 million in the bank -right now- from the federal stabilization funds that he could use for Ellis Fischel. Schafer says by withholding the funds - the governor has essentially vetoed the project. He says the phrasing makes no difference, Nixon's decision today, killed the funding. But Nixon spokesperson Jack Cardetti says Ellis Fischel is just on hold and by suspending it, the governor can look for other means of paying for it.
"The governor thought they were important, that's why he didn't veto them, and now that gives us the opportunity to move forward in the most cost effective way to get those things done," Cardetti said.
Cardetti says the governor is looking into using a bonding issue to fund the cancer center project. Nixon says, across the board, the state is looking for ways to tighten its belt.
"These fiscally responsible steps are necessary to insure that Missourians have a government we can afford without raising taxes and without sacrificing our shared priorities of education, health care, and jobs," Nixon said.
The director of the Missouri Republican Party blasted the governor in a press release, saying the crisis could have been avoided if the budget had been properly managed. Other Republicans, like Senate appropriations committee chairman Gary Nodler were more sympathetic, pointing out that state revenues have continued to deteriorate.
"In the last two months, we've gone from a negative 2.5 percent or thereabouts revenue figure to nearly 6 percent negative. That's a huge drop in revenues," Nodler said. © Copyright 2012, KBIA
