Missouri Gov. Mike Parson begins the annual State of the State speech to a joint session of the legislature on Wednesday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).
More than 170 items were struck from the Missouri state budget Friday as Gov. Mike Parson cut $1 billion from the spending plan passed this year by lawmakers.
In a statement explaining his cuts, Parson said he vetoed earmarked items that he believes were loaded into the budget for special projects and organizations without considering the future financial stability of the state.
“The use of the veto pen is not something I do eagerly, but today these vetoes represent the elimination of unnecessary pet projects and the protection of the taxpayer dime,” Parson said in a news release announcing his budget actions. “We may be leaving $1.9 billion on the bottom line, but that doesn’t mean we spend for the sake of spending.”
It was the second year in a row Parson cut the budget despite near-record surpluses.
State budget loaded with earmarks nears deadline for action by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson