Missouri lawmakers send Parson $2.8B to expand Interstate 70

By SUMMER BALLENTINE
Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers have passed a more than $50 billion state budget just hours before their deadline. The budget package approved Friday includes a whopping $2.8 billion to expand Interstate 70 to three lanes across the state. Lawmakers took up Republican Gov. Mike Parson’s call to spend more money on childcare in an effort to get more parents and guardians into the workforce. The budget includes $78 million for childcare subsidies and another $56 million to expand access to pre-K programs. Missouri’s public school teachers will get a minimum $38,000-a-year salary because of additional funding lawmakers approved.