Senate votes to keep extra pay for Mo. teachers

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri senators have voted to restore funding to a program that gives teachers a salary boost for extra work such as after-school tutoring.

The Senate Appropriations Committee last week cut all $37 million for the Career Ladder program from next year's budget. But the Senate voted Wednesday to restore the funding using federal stimulus money.

Appropriations Chairman Rob Mayer, a Republican from Dexter, said he reconsidered the cut because the program pays teachers for work that already has been done.

The Senate began debate Wednesday on a state budget of more than $23 billion for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The Legislature must approve it by May 7.