The first measure sent to Governor Mike Parson this year was a $2.2 million bill that supports the deployment of Missouri National Guard soldiers and State Highway Patrol officers to Texas for border security on Wednesday.
At the request of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Parson declared in February that he would deploy 200 soldiers and 11 troopers to assist Texas law enforcement.
In order to prevent using emergency funds designated for natural disasters or other calamities within the state, he requested the money.
The law, which cleared the House about six weeks ago, was met with little resistance as it passed 30 to 2, but state senator Denny Hoskins, a Republican from Warrensburg who was removed from the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier this year, had some concerns.
Hoskins wanted to know what the deployed troops were living in and what the $91,000 that had been set up for car purchases was actually purchasing.
The soldiers’ usage of four vans, three vehicles, and a car in Texas was covered by the $91,000, according to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Lincoln Hough.
According to Hough, the road fund, which covers the majority of the patrol’s expenses, is also being reimbursed by the state general revenue budget for the mileage accrued by trooper cars that are driven to Texas.
Hoskins seems content with the responses. He informed Hough that he was making use of floor time to ask inquiries that, had he remained on the appropriations committee, he would have asked.
“I want to make sure we have enough money in here to cover their expenses,” Hoskins stated.
The deployment costs will be paid for by the budget bill for the balance of the fiscal year, which concludes on June 30. Hough’s committee is currently debating a budget that includes $8.8 million for a full year of deployment.
According to Hough, the Senate floor will discuss the budget the week after the committee votes on it.
The deadline for lawmakers to finish working on spending bills is May 10.
