Deb Lavender

Lawmakers had until 6 p.m. Friday to pass the budget. The final product is roughly $1 billion less than Gov. Mike Parson proposed.

The legislation passed the Missouri House by the bare minimum on Thursday. It now goes to the governor’s desk.

Missouri House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith cut the time set aside for amending his spending plan but said the final product is ‘largely the same.’

Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, faced criticism last year for unsuccessfully pushing the House to purchase a software system from a private company over the objections of nonpartisan legislative staff. Meetings his office helped arrange with an Oklahoma company last month are drawing comparisons.

Under the proposed legislation, no public funds would be given to any clinic that provides abortions or its affiliate. Similar legislation has stalled in the Senate.

The legislation received almost unanimous bipartisan support in the House on Monday with a vote of 154-2. Since the House passed the Senate bill with no changes made, the measure now goes to the governor.

Senate Appropriations Chair Lincoln Hough said after speaking with departments, businesses and vendors, he recommended removing the anti-diversity, equity and inclusion language. The committee still must pass the budget bills before they can make it to the Senate floor.

The budget is less than Gov. Mike Parson’s initial proposal. However, Democrats and Republicans repeatedly clashed.

The bill would also remove taxes on Social Security benefits, which both parties say could be helpful to seniors in the state.

Before leaving for spring break, Missouri House Republicans called the first part of this year’s session successful. How much gets done during the second half, however, depends on how well both chambers navigate divisive bills.