Session ended; issues remain

The session did end last week. A budget approved by the House and Senate. Republicans on the war path. I would be too if I was totally locked out of the budget process. As always there were winners and loosers.

After 10 years of work, Harry S. Truman Community College received 1.5 million dollars earlier this year for the design of a 2-story student/faculty building to be constructed at the rear of the current building. Moving student services, administrative and faculty offices to a new building will free up space for 15 or more classrooms to expand course offerings for the over 32,000 students at Truman. I negotiated a memorandum of understanding with the Governor that the constructions costs of an additional 13.5 million dollars will be provided in the 2007 budget.

Next week I will post a detailed report on the budget and identify the winners and loosers, kids, seniors, state workers and others in dire need of the state's safety net.