Suits demand Mo. lawmakers add cash to trust funds

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Kansas City symphony and two sick Missourians want a court to rule that lawmakers have shortchanged their causes.

In separate lawsuits, the Kansas City symphony and Thomas and Margaret Redmond ask that Missouri lawmakers be ordered to increase funding for the arts and life science research.

A Cole County judge did not immediate rule Tuesday on requests from the attorney general's office to dismiss the lawsuits. Robert Presson, from the attorney general's office, argues that lawmakers have discretion in budgeting state money.

Dick Miller, an attorney representing the symphony and the couple, says state laws dictate that lawmakers put a certain amount of money in the arts and life sciences funds. He says lawmakers haven't done that.