If the legislature fails to finish the budget by Friday, some lawmakers say the governor would have to call a special session. But others, including House Budget Committee Chairman Sheila Lumpe, say even a special session is blocked from taking up the budget.
The last official act of the special session was Senate confirmation of the House Budget Committee chairman, Sheila Lumpe to join the utility-regulating Public Service Commission. PSC membership required her resignation from the legislature.
But, Budget Committee Chairman Sheila Lumpe, D-St. Louis County, criticized the university for changing its priorities halfway through the session. She claimed the university originally made Townsend its top priority, then asked for additional construction money for the Business school.
House Budget Committee Chairman Sheila Lumpe said that in a straw poll she took several weeks ago, between two-thirds and three-quarters of the Budget Committee opposed the second prison. However, she said the committee is now coming closer to a 50-50 split on the issue.
The House Budget Committee, including Committee Chairman Sheila Lumpe, defeated 15-16 a bill to raise the daily expense allowance for lawmakers - called the per diem.