Democrats urge Nixon to fund Tour of Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Democratic leaders in the Missouri Legislature are urging Gov. Jay Nixon to continue state funding for the Tour of Missouri.

Senate Minority Leader Victor Callahan, House Minority Leader Paul LeVota and several other Democrats sent a letter Tuesday to Nixon. They said the state's $1.5 million annual subsidy of the race is a wise tourism investment.

The last two years, the legislators wrote, the race brought in nearly $60 million in tourism dollars to Missouri.

Missouri's three-year sponsorship deal ended with this year's race, which was won by American David Zabriskie.

This year's race occurred only after Nixon's administration backed off a proposal to withhold state funding because of budget concerns.

Nixon spokesman Scott Holste said the Democratic governor wants to evaluate the state's financial situation before deciding whether to support the race in the future.