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House Committee Approves Legislation to Provide Permanent Funding for Veterans..

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David Day:
  House Committee Approves Legislative Solution to Provide Permanent Funding Source for Veterans Homes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The efforts of state Rep. David Day, R-Dixon, to find a new funding source for the state’s veterans homes took an important step forward Tuesday. The House Veterans Committee approved legislation that would dedicate more of the state’s lottery prize money to education, which would in turn free up funding generated by casino entrance fees to be used for the state’s veterans homes. Day said the change could generate an extra $30 million to help keep the existing seven homes open and potentially build an eighth home in the future.
 
“I’m excited to find what I believe is a solution that is a win-win for everyone involved,” said Day. “This allows us to find a stable funding source for our veteran’s homes and even allows us to increase funding to early childhood education and the Missouri National Guard Trust Fund. The best part is this proposal does it without any kind of increase in entrance fees or taxes.”
 
HB 1731 would change the disbursement of lottery prize money so that 30.5 percent goes to education. Under current law, education receives 27 percent of lottery money. The change would provide approximately $35 million in funding to early childhood education – an increase of slightly more than $4 million. By drawing funding for early childhood education from lottery prize money, the current funding source derived from the existing casino entrance fee would be freed up to help maintain the state’s veteran’s homes. Day said the change would reduce the amount of prize money going back to lottery winners from 63 cents of every dollar to 59.5 cents.
 
“It’s a relatively small change to the amount of money that goes to prizes, but it’s a huge change in funding for both early childhood education and our veterans,” said Day. “This is a great day for the many veterans who call our state home. With this funding we can not only keep the existing homes open, we also can realistically look at building another home down the road to provide bed space for the many veterans currently on the waiting list.”
 
Day’s bill was approved by the committee by a vote of 14-0. The bill now moves to the House Rules Committee of which Day is a member of for approval before heading to the House floor for discussion.

missouriguy:
I love reading stories that have anything to do with helping veterans.Mr Day I applaud you sir

David Day:
Thank you.  Here is another of many stories on this bill that is out there:  http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2012/02/21/update-missouri-house-panel-backs-increase-veterans-funding/

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