Kinder's index

JEFFERSON CITY -- Harper's Index is a clever demonstration of what facts alone can tell. With due respect to the folks of Harper's, perhaps a similar list can be enlightening for citizens in regard to Missouri's current budget situation.

1. Last time Missouri has not had a budget for public schools on July 1: 1867.

2. Number of constitutional or statutory provisions requiring the legislature to pass a balanced budget: 0.

3. Number of times previous governors have vetoed entire budget bills because they disagreed with amounts lawmakers approved: 0.

4. Last time an entire budget bill was vetoed (by Gov. Joseph Wingate Folk because of drafting errors): 1907.

5. Total number of budget bills vetoed by Gov. Bob Holden since May 30: 6.

5. Number of times since May 30, Holden has vetoed appropriations bills for free public schools despite constitutional prohibition that "the governor shall not reduce any appropriation for free public schools" (Article IV, Section 26): 2.

7. Amount of state, federal or other funds governor can spend without legislative authorization: $0.

8. Total state operating budget for fiscal year 2004 (July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004) requested by Holden on Jan. 15, 2003: $19,291,642,170.

9. Total state operating budget for fiscal year 2004 approved by lawmakers on May 9, 2003: $18,961,902,430.

10. Difference, in dollars and percentages, between what governor requested and lawmakers approved: $329,739,740; 1.7 percent.

11. Amount of total state operating budget approved by legislature, in dollars and percentages, vetoed by Holden on May 30, 2003: $12,388,773,240; 65.3 percent.

12. Total funding Holden requested for public schools on Jan 15, 2003: $4,691,452,036.

13. Total funding legislature approved for public schools on May 9, 2003: $4,478,306,342.

14. Percentage of Holden's request for public school funding General Assembly approved on May 9: 95.4 percent.

15. Amount of funding available for public schools after Holden's veto of HB 2 on May 30, 2003: $0.

16. State, federal and other funds General Assembly approved for public schools on June 17, 2003: $4,550,421,631.

17. Percentage of Holden's request for public school funding General Assembly approved on June 17: 96.9 percent.

18. Amount of funding legislature appropriated for public schools vetoed by Holden on May 30, 2003: 100 percent.

19. Amount of funding available for public schools after Holden's veto of HB 2 on June 19, 2003: $0.

20. Days between governor's veto of school funding and constitutional date on when fiscal year 2004 budget takes effect (including weekend): 11.

21. Minimum number of days in which constitution allows legislature to pass a bill (including weekends): 5.

22. Amount of largest tax increase in Missouri history (SB 380, 1993): $325 million a year, 1993 dollars.

23. Number of citizens who voted for largest tax increase in Missouri history: 0.

24. Amount of tax increase Holden has asked lawmakers to approve: $700 million.

25. Number of statewide tax proposals offered last year: 4.

26. Number of statewide tax proposals defeated by voters last year: 4.

27. Minimum time span constitution specifies for which Legislature can appropriate budget bills: 1 year.

28. Time span of budget appropriated requested by Holden of legislature on June 18: 90 days.

29. Number of appropriations bills to fund public education remaining after Holden's vetoes: 0.

30. Number of appropriations bills to fund public education allowed under Holden's "revised" special session call of June 18: 0.

31. Percentage of lawmakers in each chamber required to sign petitions to convene in special session to override Holden's vetoes of funds for public schools and colleges: 75 percent.

32. Percentage of lawmakers in each chamber actually required to override a veto by the governor: 66 percent.

33. Number of times in state's history the legislature has overridden vetoes by a governor: 7.

34. Number of Missouri governors (prior to Holden) who have vetoed funding bills approved by lawmakers for public schools and colleges: 0.

35. Number of times Missouri has reached July 1 without a budget in place since this date was set as the beginning of the fiscal year by the Missouri Constitution of 1875: 0.

Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau is assistant to the chairman of Rust Communications and president pro tem of the Missouri Senate.