Update on Feb. 22 at 5:15 p.m.:

A House Committee has endorsed a plan that would allow Missouri to accept and distribute a $189 million federal education stimulus.

House Budget Committee Chairman Ryan Silvey said the new plan would provide a more steady funding stream for schools than the plan Gov. Nixon has proposed.

"When you run more or less money through the formula, it changes the distribution model," Silvey said. "By creating stability, we will run the same amount through. That keeps the distribution model the same. We think this is a much better solution."

The plan would use some of the money to offset shortfalls in casino tax revenues that were set to go to schools. Most of it, however, would offset state revenues already budgeted for schools this year. It would allow the state money to be saved and distributed to schools next year.

Original story:

Lawmakers in Jefferson City will discuss a $189 million federal payment for schools on Tuesday. The issue first came up in January, when some lawmakers pushed Governor Nixon to reject the federal payment.

Gov. Nixon wants to send schools an influx of federal money this year, but cut districts’ funding next school year. He wants the districts to balance the cut by carrying money from this school year’s budget into the 2011-2012 year.

Sen. Jim Lembke is against the funding because he believes it will contribute to the federal deficit. In January, he said the money should be rejected as a matter of principle.

Republican Senator Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau said in January that Missouri has relied on one-time patches too often for the budget and accepting the money would only delay cuts that eventually would have to be made.

House Budget Committee Chairman Ryan Silvey said Missouri should accept the funding, but wants to see Missouri have a flat funding model instead of an increase this year, and decrease next.

Lawmakers are discussing the issue on Tuesday.

Do you think Missouri should accept the federal funding and how would you use it?