Mo. Senate leaders opposed cut to blind aid

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Republican Senate leaders say they won't go along with a Missouri House plan to eliminate a state aid program for the blind.

The House Budget Committee opened hearings Monday on a proposed budget that would get rid of a $28 million blind aid program to help avoid cuts that Gov. Jay Nixon had proposed for public colleges and universities.

But Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer said Monday that he and other Republican leaders are opposed to cutting aid to the blind. Nixon also has voiced opposition to the proposed House cut.

House Budget Chairman Ryan Silvey has said cutting the blind program would be fair, because people with other disabilities who earn similar amounts of money do not receive any similar state benefit.