Despite approval by Missouri General Assembly, Tour of MO funding still in doubt at Division of Tourism

The article below, by Kathleen Nelson of the St Louis Post-Dispatch, is a good summary of where we are now with the Tour of Missouri.

To make a difference, contact:

Missouri Division of Tourism
Phone: 573-751-4133
Fax: 573-751-5160
Email: tourism@ded.mo.gov

From the Post-Dispatch:

Medalist Sports, which has partnered with the state in staging the Tour of Missouri, has set a deadline of May 7 for an answer to the simple question: Will the state support the race, scheduled for Aug. 31-Sept. 6?

If not, Medalist will pull out of the race.

The $1 million appropriation from the department of tourism for the race was included in the final budget that the Legislature approved Thursday. The issue of state funding seems far from resolved, though.

First, Gov. Jay Nixon holds a line-item veto and could slash the race’s funding. Nixon last year temporarily withheld the funding but reinstated the $1.5 million two weeks later and the race went on as planned.

From there, the funding lies with the Missouri Tourism Commission.  A debate has developed over whether the commission has the power to spend the money elsewhere or whether it must be spent on the race.

“I’m trying to find out whether there’s discretion or not over that,” said Marci Bennett, chair of the tourism commission. She hinted that if the commission has discretion, they could move the money elsehwere. She noted that the commission voted in November to cease funding the race. “We determined that if we’re having these draconian cuts for the state, it does not seem reasonable to put that percentage into one event.”

What's incredible here is that the funding has been approved by the duly elected leaders in Missouri government.  If the Governor wishes to line-item veto this item, I would disagree, but that is his prerogative as the duly elected governor of Missouri.

But the Missouri Tourism Commission is an appointed body charged with executing the instructions of the state's elected leaders.

For an appointed commission to overturn the will of the people as expressed through their elected leaders would be an unbelievable over-reach of the power and responsibility they have to oversee the Missouri Division of Tourism and carry out the legislative intent as expressed by our democratic process.

Please be polite and persuasive when you call, fax, or email the Division of Tourism--but your call today can really, really make a difference:

 

Missouri Division of Tourism
Phone: 573-751-4133
Fax: 573-751-5160
Email: tourism@ded.mo.gov