By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri House has begun debate on the final version of the state budget.
House members spent much of the morning sparring over how much money to give K-12 schools.
Retired educator and State Representative Joe Aull (D, Marshall) says the budget compromise doesn't provide enough.
"Every year people say to me in my district, 'Why do you vote against the education budget? You're an educator.' The reason why is because I don't think we're doing everything we need to do...I realize money's tight right now, but we're trying to tell the public, 'Hey, we're fully funding education,' and I just don't think that's absolutely true...I think we're misleading people by saying that," Aull said.
House Budget Chairman Allen Icet (R, Wildwood) says they're not underfunding the formula for Missouri's K-12 schools, even with state revenues decreasing.
Final votes on the budget bills will be taken together after debate on all the bills has concluded.