By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
Jefferson City, Mo. – Missouri lawmakers return from spring break today. An item high on their agenda is the state budget, and a key House committee is scheduled to begin working on it immediately.
Gov. Jay Nixon says the budget he recommended in January needs to be trimmed by $500 million.
That's because of a downturn in state tax revenues and uncertainty over whether Congress will extend enhanced Medicaid payments to states.
Nixon has suggested some ideas for cuts, but not $500 million worth.
Republican House leaders say they want the Democratic governor to lead the way in suggesting line-by-line cuts.