Missouri lawmakers put the brakes on a line in Gov. Mike Kehoe’s proposed budget Wednesday after spotting a $250,000 grant earmarked for a nonprofit tied to former Gov. Mike Parson. Half of the cash, they said, would come from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds intended for low-income families, and legislators blasted the administration for offering scant detail on how the money would actually be spent. The tense exchange played out in a public budget hearing as representatives pressed Department of Social Services staff for answers.
What the budget recommends
Kehoe’s budget carves the $250,000 into two equal parts: $125,000 from general revenue and $125,000 from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, according to reporting by Missouri Independent. The budget language says the grant would support a group providing “essential resources and support” to Missourians in need, but it does not spell out who would qualify or what specific services would be offered.
Who is the 57 Foundation?
The 57 Foundation, created in late 2024, lists plans in its federal filings for a gubernatorial library alongside what it calls “straightforward charitable giving” to assist people in need, according to nonprofit records, as per KSDK. Cause IQ details the organization’s formation date and mission language.
Lawmakers demand answers
Democratic lawmakers said the administration’s explanation did not cut it. “It doesn’t appear that our departments are doing due diligence when they are appropriating these funds,” Rep. Raychel Proudie told KSDK. Rep. Betsy Fogle added that she found it “hard to believe” the nonprofit best positioned to serve Missouri would just happen to be one connected to the former governor.
Political ties and past spending
The 57 Foundation’s president is Tom Burcham, who also has ties to Uniting Missouri, a political committee that donated $100,000 to support Kehoe’s 2024 campaign and previously spent roughly $120,000 on former Gov. Parson’s travel to NFL events, Missouri Independent reported. Lawmakers said those connections only deepen their concerns about transparency around earmarks and whether the proposed grant would truly advance TANF objectives.
TANF rules and what’s at stake
Federal TANF guidance from the U.S. Administration for Children and Families says the program’s primary purpose is to assist needy families and that spending must be reasonably calculated to achieve TANF goals. States get some flexibility in how they use TANF dollars, but the guidance is clear that benefits classified as “assistance” must be targeted to financially needy families, a legal line lawmakers pointed to during the hearing. Background on those rules is available from the Administration for Children and Families.
What’s next
Department of Social Services Director Jess Bax told lawmakers the agency would supply more information and said the department backs the governor’s recommendations, according to reporting by News From The States. The appropriation now advances through the committee process, and legislators said they expect follow-up documentation before any final vote.
