By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – This year's tone of bipartisanship in the Missouri House is dead, according to Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota.
LeVota, from the Kansas City area, says the Republican majority's unwillingness to use federal stimulus money to shore up the budget shows they're not willing to work with Democrats.
"Instead of using almost $800 million in federal money on important things like health care, the Republicans decide not to use that, and move into an ideological bent that there's no way they should use that money at all," he said
GOP leaders like budget chairman Allen Icet of Wildwood say federal stimulus money would be better used for one-time expenditures, primarily road and bridge projects. Icet says Missouri's economy would eventually crash if one-time money is used for ongoing social services.
The House and Senate have adjourned for Spring Break.