House gives first-round approval to budget plan

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A bill that would let lawmakers use $30 million sitting unspent in government accounts to plug holes in the current state budget received initial House approval Wednesday.

The measure mirrors Gov. Bob Holden's plan for a so-called "sweep" of unused money from about 200 state treasury accounts.

House Budget Committee Chairman Tim Green sponsored the bill, saying such transfers were needed given the state's revenue shortage in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.

"I don't sleep at night," Green said during Wednesday's House debate. "I'm trying to find money."

The House gave the measure first-round approval on a voice vote. Final passage would send it to the Senate.

As part of his multi-pronged strategy for financing government services, Holden proposed taking roughly 7 percent out of about 200 funds and transferring the $30 million to various agencies in the current fiscal year.

A House panel had deleted $30 million from the supplemental appropriations bill because lawmakers worried that Green's bill would not be passed in time to cover holes in the current budget.

Bill awaits debate

The supplemental budget bill, which fixes budget shortfalls, is awaiting House debate.

The idea of sweeping government accounts is not new. Republicans, particularly state Rep. Gary Marble of Neosho, who praised Wednesday's vote, proposed it last year. The issue was studied between sessions by a legislative oversight committee.

Under Green's bill, certain funds would be protected from the "sweep," such as federal funds and those authorized by the Missouri Constitution.

Lawmakers would begin reviewing the cash balance of all state funds beginning with the fiscal 2004 budget which begins July 1 of next year.

Also part of the bill that was approved through a separate vote was a provision that would charge a variety of state agencies administrative costs for fund management.

"In times like these we need to pull these appropriations out and bring these funds down," Green said. The fund sweep bill is HB1906 (Green).