A Missouri Republican lawmaker claims Gov. Jay Nixon's proposed budget is based on a gamble, so he is suggesting the state's chief executive be ordered to play the lottery to fund it.

Nixon has proposed a $23.9 billion state operating budget. That includes an estimated $300 million that Missouri assumes it will receive by Congress extending federal stimulus payments to states by an extra six months.

Republican lawmakers contend Nixon is including "hopes" in his budget and setting up lawmakers to be the "bad guys" forced to cut the state's budget. House member Mark Parkinson, of St. Charles, is sponsoring legislation requiring $2 be deducted from Nixon's paychecks to buy a lottery ticket.

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