Athat would place caps on the state budget has received first-round approval in the .
The measure would limit state spending each year to the annual rate of inflation and would take population growth into account. The sponsor,(R, Springfield), told fellow lawmakers that they should follow the example of everyday citizens who have to balance their household budgets. Democrats,however, including of Kansas City, argued that the proposed ballot measure would be redundant.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 make sense," Hughes said. "We are required already to have a balanced budget in a way that already limits what state appropriations are鈥�44 percent of Missouri鈥檚 major highways are already congested and they鈥檙e already in poor or mediocre condition鈥s that efficient?鈥�
Other Democrats argued that placing caps on state spending would tie the hands of future lawmakers and cripple social service needs that are already critically underfunded. (R, Kansas City) disagreed.
鈥淭his legislature is not hamstringing anybody, because ultimately this goes on the ballot," Silvey said. "The people that elect us would decide what the limits on our power is, which, by the way, is what a constitution is鈥t鈥檚 the people deciding what the limits on the government are supposed to be.鈥�
The proposed ballot initiative was approved 100-53 on a strict party line vote. of Columbia was the only Democrat who voted "yes."
The resolution faces one more House vote before moving to the. If it passes the General Assembly it could go before Missouri voters this fall.