JEFFERSON CITY—Missouri legislators are asking certain state departments to look at cutting waste after the governor’s actions this week on the state budget. The governor announced he plans to restrict nearly $650 million in general revenue from the state budget. Along with his vetoes, he has reduced funding for state programs, including education, by more than $1 billion.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, said there are other ways to cut government waste without holding school children hostage and cutting vital social services.

“The governor continues to blame the Legislature for our economic failures, yet he shares no economic development plans except expanding welfare by taking federal dollars which is no plan at all,” said Schaefer. “While he continues to cut services for some of our most needy and education, he flies around in his state-of-art $6 million plane using state money to pay for the expense of pilots, maintenance, fuel, and other associated travel costs.”

Sen. Schaefer and House Budget Chairman Rick Stream, R-Kirkwood, sent a letter to the Missouri State Highway Patrol this week addressing the government waste in the department.

“We budgeted as though our revenues would grow at a certain rate, and that didn’t happen,” said Stream. “Until we can have further budget analysis, we ask the highway patrol to restrict use of all state-owned aircraft unless it is within the core mission and duty of the department to maintain public safety.”

Sen. Schaefer and Rep. Stream state in the letter, “that limiting the use of state-owned aircraft will help ensure that the resources it takes to maintain and operate such aircraft remain available for when they are most needed by Missouri citizens.”

“It has been brought to my attention by the Senate Appropriations Chairman that there are ways we can rein in costs,” said Senate Leader Tom Dempsey, R-Charles. “I fully support his request to cut back on non-essential air travel until state revenues are once again growing.”