The Star’s editorial | Missouri’s governor should cut out the budget games - KansasCity.com

The Star’s editorial | Missouri’s governor should cut out the budget games - KansasCity.com

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snip from article:

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon’s cost-cutting measures have earned him the label of “cutter in chief.” But he’s taking that role too far.

The Democratic governor has arbitrarily been altering the 2012 budget sent to him by the Republican-controlled legislature. He’s cut money appropriated for colleges and universities, the Parents as Teachers program, the state transportation department and other functions.

The Missouri constitution authorizes the governor to withhold funds if revenues fall below expectations. Governors often hold back on spending money early in a fiscal year to make sure the state won’t run short later.

But Nixon announced he’s withholding $170 million from the 2012 budget even before the fiscal year began on July 1. He says he needs the money to pay for emergency costs created by flooding in the state and the deadly Joplin tornado.

Auditor Tom Schweich, a Republican, on Friday filed a lawsuit alleging Nixon had violated the constitution and ignored the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches. Nixon’s office responded that he was acting under “constitutional authority.”

The governor’s actions are at least unwise and arrogant. Schweich’s accusation that Nixon is running roughshod over the legislature is well founded.

Nixon can meet emergency expenses without further penalizing universities and people in need of social services. The obvious option is to tap the state’s $527 million rainy day fund. If flooding and tornadoes don’t qualify as a rainy day, why have an emergency account?

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Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/08/26/3101987/the-stars-editorial-missouris.html#ixzz1WWKoi43K