House restores funding for state Liquor Control

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Lawmakers restored funding to the state Liquor Control Division but failed at numerous attempts to raise state employee salaries Thursday as the House plugged away at a proposed $19 billion budget.

By late afternoon, the House had approved more than half of the legislation making up the fiscal 2003 spending plan for different state services. But it was still working on spending plans for health, mental health and social services -- some of the largest and most contentious bills.

State revenue is tight, giving lawmakers little opportunity for boosting funding for pet projects. Before starting the budget debate Wednesday, the House adopted a new rule requiring members to cut money from one account before increasing another.

At the suggestion of Rep. Chuck Graham, the House Budget Committee last month slashed the Liquor Control Division's budget to about $600,000 from the current $4.1 million. The agency issues liquor licenses, enforces liquor laws and collects about $30 million annually in license fees.

Rep. Craig Hosmer, D-Springfield, on Thursday successfully amended the $360 million public safety bill to add $3 million to the Liquor Control budget. Hosmer's amendment took the extra money from a fund for automating court records.

Graham, D-Columbia, moved to cut the agency's budget to signal his displeasure with how it operates in his hometown and what he called its duplication of work by local police. He said the 85 percent reduction would have left the agency just enough to continue collecting fees.

But Keith Fuller, Liquor Control supervisor, said the cut would have left the agency unable to collect fees or enforce liquor laws.

House members from small communities said the Liquor Control cuts would have been especially hard for areas that have few law officers.