The Daily Dish, May 5, 2012

Cigarette tax supporters turn in signatures By Rudi Keller, The Columbia Daily Tribune

Supporters of a proposal to increase the tax on cigarettes by 73 cents per pack collected 220,000 petition signatures yesterday in hopes of putting the measure on the November ballot. The proposal would generate $283 million to $423 million annually. Half the money would be used for public school programs, 30 percent would go to higher education and 20 percent would support smoking cessation programs.

Lawmakers consider Missouri fund for college building By Chris Blank, The Associated Press, The Kansas City Star

Missouri lawmakers are considering a new way to help pay for construction on college campuses. The proposal would create the Higher Education Capital Fund to provide state matching funds for local contributions for new higher education building projects. 

Impasse over Mo. budget with one week left to pass it By Marshall Griffin, St. Louis Public Radio

House and Senate budget negotiators remain at an impasse on what’s become the main barrier to reaching an agreement:  finding a way to fund veterans’ homes. The House this week passed legislation that would fund veterans homes with gaming revenues currently designated for early childhood programs, and replace it with money from a tobacco settlement.  The Senate has so far refused to take up the measure.