Missouri budget creates choice between seniors, kids

Missouri lawmakers have passed a nearly $25 billion budget that could force Gov. Jay Nixon to choose between aiding children and low-income seniors.

The 2014 budget passed Thursday assumes more than $55 million of savings by eliminating tax breaks for low-income seniors and disabled residents who live in rental housing.

The budget would spend the savings on early childhood programs for the developmentally disabled, health care for the blind and medical clinics for low-income people.

Nixon has said he would veto a repeal of the renters tax break unless it’s part of a broader tax-credit overhaul. But a veto would jeopardize funding for the childhood and health care initiatives.

Senators said they will work on a plan to allow those programs to be funded regardless of whether the tax break is repealed.