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Holden Signs $19 Billion State Budget

Missouri Gov. Bob Holden.
(UPI file)
Missouri Gov. Bob Holden.

By AP/KWMU

Jefferson City, Mo. – Governor Holden has signed into law a nearly $19 billion operating budget for Missouri government.

The budget is $1 billion larger than last year. It boosts spending for education and health care and gives pay raises to state employees.

But the Democratic governor claims it still doesn't do enough to address Missouri's future economic challenges.

Holden signed the budget without any ceremony and without any substantive vetoes.

That's a sharp contrast to last year, when Holden twice vetoed major budget bills and criticized the Republican-led Legislature, in a series of news conferences.

This year, the GOP again rejected Holden's proposed tax increases. Yet they funded most of Holden's requests by relying on improved state revenues.

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