Captiol Report for May 14th, 2008

Finalizing the 2009 Budget
This past week the General Assembly finalized the fiscal year 2009 state budget. For the past two years, I have been concerned about the rate of growth in state government spending, therefore this year, I am happy to report that the FY09 budget has been built on a growth rate of only 3.4%. I am hopeful that this fiscal restraint will help us better manage any challenging times ahead by ensuring government lives within its means while maintaining our commitments to our top priorities.
The fiscal year 2009 budget includes $121 million in new money for our education foundation formula thereby bringing our total appropriation for elementary and secondary education to nearly $5.3 billion. This year’s budget also expands many of our top priorities such as Parents as Teachers and the A+ Schools Program.
While the FY09 budget has been built on a more conservative estimate than in the past, I believe that the General Assembly must exercise extraordinary restraint as we finalize legislation this week. During this last week of session, bills and amendments start moving at a rapid pace and unfortunately, many of these initiatives, although well intended, have the ability to put serious strain on the state’s finances by dramatically increasing to cost of ongoing programs. I believe it is imperative that the legislature advances with caution in these final days so that we can ensure fiscal restraint and responsible stewardship of your hard earned money.
I believe the citizens of this state deserve a government that spends taxpayer money wisely thereby ensuring that taxpayers get to keep as much of their hard earned dollars as possible. Our government must live within its means and we cannot allow the broken fiscal policies of the past to resurface. You deserve a government that is reasonable, responsible, and accountable to the people it serves, and I am committed to fighting for and defending those principles as long as I hold elected office.
As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns. The Capitol number is (573) 751-1415, my email is brad.lager@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 429, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.