Missouri Senate approves a $50 billion state budget — with library funding added back in

The Senate’s proposed budget is $4.2 billion more than what the Missouri House passed weeks ago. Like in the House, most of the debate in the Senate was spent over an amendment that would have inserted language against diversity, equity and inclusion.
Missouri Senators early Wednesday morning approved a $49.9 billion operating budget, which is $4.2 billion more than what the House passed weeks ago.

The budget returned to the House, where the body on Wednesday refused to pass the Senate’s versions of the bills and requested conference committees to reach a compromise between the chambers.

While the Senate was able to get its version of the budget through, most of the debate was spent over two amendments that sought to insert anti-diversity, equity and inclusion language.