The only piece of legislation the Missouri State Constitution requires politicians write every year is the budget. With all the new spending proposed by Governor Blunt in the past four months, you'd think that the Missouri budget is easily operating with a surplus of money, but that doesn't appear to be the case. With several new funding initiatives by Governor Blunt this year the financial front of Missouri is secure, or so it seems.

"Tonight I recommend increased investment in math and science education. I recommend three quarters of a million dollars to train nearly one thousand new advanced placement teachers and to help at least six thousand students take advanced placement tests," said Blunt at his State of the State speech.

But when the doors of the house floor opened for the first time this session, Republican Representative Allen Icet already had citizens calling about funding.

"Similar to the federal level in the Governor's State of the State - that's a recommendation. But the budget bill, similar to the federal level, originates in the house," said Icet, the Budget Chairman.

But can Missouri sustain the budget Governor Blunt has recommended?

"I'm of the position that I don't believe we can," said Icet.

Recommended increases by Governor Blunt include over $400 million for transportation projects, over $240 million in education, and $67 million for creating jobs. Blunt has also called for increases in children's programs, Missouri health net, seniors and the disabled, and agriculture. Missouri will likely see a decrease this year in state revenue due to recent changes to the Missouri statues, such as the elimination of taxing income from social security, unemployment and a decrease in consumer confidence as the economy continues to weaken in Missouri, and across the nation. That could translate into a budget crisis here in Jefferson City.

Sheila Bader from Citizens for Missouri's Children is worried new projects she advocates for won't get funded.

"We're most concerned about the allocation of resources for children in any and all areas that the legislature is looking at," said Bader.

If the politicians have over promised, this Representative knows what to cut.

"The first thing that we tend to look at is a new decision item, something that we as a state have never funded before so this would be the first year, as well as any expansions and we try to preserve the core budget for existing items," says Icet.

On the inside of the representative's door is a fortune from a fortune cookie that reads, "You shouldn't overspend at the moment. Frugality is important." If that fortune is right, doors will be closing on new Missouri projects instead of opening for them. The fiscal year runs from July 1st to June 30th, and as the budget takes its final form we'll see just how much of the proposed spending Missouri can afford.