Gov. Jay Nixon announced Friday that he will call a special legislative session in December to provide funding for National Guard and State Highway Patrol activity in the Ferguson area.
“Time is of the essence,” the Missouri Democrat said in a statement. “It is vital that we act quickly so that we can fulfill our obligation to the men and women who are so bravely and capably serving their fellow citizens.”
Nixon wants to call the session soon enough to ensure National Guard members can be paid on Dec. 15.
The governor will also request funding for debris cleanup, but the main purpose is to secure additional funding for security in the Ferguson area.
“Unlike during prior emergencies, a special session is necessary for Ferguson-related obligations because the appropriations for the state’s emergency duty costs no longer include an “estimated” designation,” said the statement. “Without the estimated designation, the Governor must ask the legislature to appropriate additional amounts when needed.”
Ferguson has quieted down significantly in the days following a grand jury’s decision not to charge police officer Darren Wilson for fatally shooting 18-year-old Ferguson resident Michael Brown.
