House Agrees on Budget, Redistricting

NEWS RELEASE    ---     From the Office of Representative Shelley Keeney - 156^th District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:	CONTACT:    Rep. Shelley Keeney
May 2, 2011	(573) 751-5912

 House Agrees on Budget, Redistricting

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – This week was very busy for the Missouri House, as we continued negotiating on the state budget and passed a new Congressional apportionment plan.

“This session has been unique – with our current economic climate, it was challenging to craft a budget that would meet the state’s needs without raising taxes. Not only were we able to pass a budget without new job-killing taxes, but we were able to craft a plan in line with our session-long goal of creating new jobs for Missourians,” said State Representative Shelley Keeney.

While Washington D.C. continues to tax and spend with no end in sight, Missouri was able to take a common-sense, family-style approach, only spending the money that we actually have received in state revenue.  “It’s irresponsible to budget on the backs of our children, and we would never allow that to happen in   the State of Missouri.”

In addition, despite some overblown controversy, the Senate and House have agreed on a redistricting map this week.  It will now move to the Governor’s desk for his signature, which we sincerely hope he does sign.

“This has been a complicated process throughout the discussions and approval process -- between the people of Missouri who testified at our local committee meetings, and the Senators and Representatives who served on the redistricting committee. Despite some minor differences, we all knew the goal was to craft a map that ensured that all Missourian’s votes would be counted equally, and that they would have the opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice,”  said Keeney.

As the budget and the congressional districts have both been passed out of the House and Senate, the spotlight is now on the Governor to see what, if anything, he will veto  --  and whether or not the House and Senate would be able to override a veto, should it come to that following a veto.