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Holden Changes Special Session Agenda

Missouri Gov. Bob Holden
(KWMU File Photo)
Missouri Gov. Bob Holden

By AP/KWMU

Jefferson City, MO – Missouri Governor Bob Holden this week changed the reason for calling the current special session in Jefferson City.

Originally, Holden called lawmakers back to come up with ways to raise new money for the state. Holden wanted lawmakers to let voters decide whether to raise taxes, but the Republian-led Legislature instead passed a new budget using some newly-available federal money.

Wednesday, Holden changed that special session mission; he now wants lawmakers to pass an emergency and temporary budget for the state's schools and colleges. The governor vetoed two new education bills that lawmakers sent him this week.

GOP leaders say his agenda-changing move is unconstitutional. "This takes idiocy to an entirely new level," said Missouri Republican Party spokesman John Hancock, in a news release titled "Holden Has Officially Lost It."

GOP leaders plan to send him the same budget they sent on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the impasse has education officials in Missouri pondering the potential effect of a government shutdown. That's a possibility if the governor and lawmakers don't come to an agreement by July First. Schools and colleges are unlikely to immediately close, but some education services could be impacted.

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