By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – The speaker of the Missouri House on Thursday named a new budget chairman after ousting the last one.
Republican Allen Icet, of Wildwood, will take over as chairman of the powerful budget committee for Brad Lager. Lager was removed two weeks ago by House Speaker Rod Jetton.
Jetton has said little about the reasons except that Lager didn't share his priorities.
Lager had warned the state was facing a shortfall of a couple hundred million dollars next year and called for a freeze on the growth of state government.
Icet says he does not know yet whether Lager's predictions of a shortfall appear likely.
Icet had been vice chairman of the committee before Lager was ousted.
Icet, a Houston native, has represented Missouri's 84th District in the House since 2001. In his other life, he's an engineer who previously served on the Rockwood School Board.