Emergency Funding For Metro Clears One Hurdle, Faces More

The Missouri House this week approved spending $12 million in federal stimulus funds to alleviate budget cuts at cash strapped Metro.

The bill (H.B. 22) -- part of a larger stimulus measure -- was defeated once in the House before passing on Monday. It now faces an uncertain battle in the Senate.

It's unclear, too, what will happen when/if the bill in its current form reaches the governor's desk.

Governor Jay Nixon has remained largely mum on the St. Louis transit agency's historic service cuts. Last month Nixon's silence prompted State Representative Jamilah Nasheed to send him a letter accusing him of "ignoring the plights of blacks in the City of St. Louis."