Republican senators stall debate on Mo. budget

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A group of fiscally conservative Republicans has stalled Senate debate on Missouri's proposed $24 billion budget.

After four hours of debate and four more hours of closed-door negotiations, senators went home late Monday night -- just minutes before midnight -- without taking a vote on the budget.

Republican senators were to meet Tuesday with officials from various state departments about potential changes with the hope of bringing the plan back up for debate later in the day.

A coalition of nine Republican senators has been complaining that the budget relies too heavily on one-time funding sources, such as $40 million from a settlement with mortgage lenders.

They also contend that projections for lottery revenues are too optimistic and not enough money is being set aside to cover any unexpected expense.