Missouri lawmakers push to have voters place a cap on state spending
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Missouri lawmakers push to have voters place a cap on state spending

Date: February 14, 2013
By: Alexander Mallin
State Capitol Bureau
Links: SJR2

Intro: 
Several Missouri lawmakers want to change the constitution to cap state spending and cut taxes if the state takes in too much of your money.
RunTime:  0:43
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Republican Senator Brad Lager says he wants voters to amend the state constitution so that when spending hits the limit of the previous fiscal year, it stops. The amendment says any extra revenue would go towards reducing the income tax. 

He says the General Assembly is unable to cut the state's budget.

Actuality:  LAGE1.WAV
Run Time:  00:09
Description: "The political will does not exist within the people who reside in this building to change this. It's only going to happen when the voters put a spending cap on the elected officials."

But some groups say they are worried the change could unfairly restrict future lawmakers to set state spending.

The amendment is still being heard in committee, if passed through the General Assembly voters would decide on it in 2014.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.

Intro: 
Republicans in the state Capitol say they want to give voters the chance to say "enough is enough" on state spending.
RunTime:  0:37
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Several Missouri lawmakers say they want to amend the state constitution so that when spending hits the limit of the previous fiscal year, it stops.

If the state were to take in too much money, state taxes would quickly drop.

Jay Hardenbrook is the Director of Policy at the Missouri Budget Project. He says the amendment could endanger certain state programs by cutting too much too fast.

Actuality:  HARDEN3.WAV
Run Time:  00:04
Description: "We need to do that with a scalpel and not a machete and we tend to think of this as more of a machete approach."

The amendment is still being heard in committee, if passed through the General Assembly voters would decide on it in 2014.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.