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MO senators split budget vote

By Maria Altman

St. Louis, MO – Missouri's two Senators each broke with party lines last night to pass a spending bill that will keep the government running.

Senator Claire McCaskill was one of three Democrats to vote no.

McCaskill said it was too big, inconsistent with the stimulus package, and had too many earmarks.

"I have in the past voted for bills that have earmarks in them because I don't think I can sign up to never vote on a budget bill, but the combination of those three things together moved me to a no vote," McCaskill said.

Her Republican counterpart, Kit Bond, joined seven other Republicans to vote yes, despite what he called the "imperfect" nature of the 410 billion dollar budget bill

"We try to make them as good as possible, but we have to keep the government running," Bond said.

However, Missouri's senior senator panned President Obama's proposed budget for the next fiscal year, saying it continues a spending and borrowing spree that will further damage the economy.

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