By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, Mo. – Missouri Governor Matt Blunt is forging ahead with a plan to archive state e-mails, even though lawmakers have not approved money to run it.
The Republican governor relied on existing money in January when he ordered the installation of a permanent e-mail retention system.
However the budget being considered by lawmakers does not include the $500,000 needed to operate the archive.
Blunt staff members said officials will find the money anyway.
The budget consideration comes a day after investigators appointed by Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon sued the governor.
That suit claims Blunt or his deputies tried to order the destruction of the state's existing e-mail backup tapes.
Meanwhile, Blunt's staff is calling the move political grandstanding, and has requested e-mail backup tapes from Nixon's office.