JEFFERSON CITY, (KMOX) - Bill Fairbairn, a Stover resident and Persian Gulf War veteran, said on Tuesday that he is on a hunger strike and won’t eat until the Senate passes a funding increase to veterans’ homes.

Fairbairn also said he is disappointed with the Senate’s inaction and he wanted them to know veterans are watching. “We’re really hoping this year they get their act together and instead of pointing their fingers at each other that they know veterans vote, and we point our fingers at them,” Fairbairn said.

House budget leaders have said they will not act further on the state budget until the Senate passes the increase.