JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The top Democrat in the Missouri House is suggesting the elimination of some state tax breaks to help balance the budget.

House Minority Leader Paul LeVota says spending cuts alone won't close what Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon has described as a roughly $500 million gap in next year's budget. LeVota says all tax credits should be reviewed, and some tax exemptions also should be eliminated.

Nixon was scheduled to outline his own budget plans Thursday in a speech to the Springfield Business Development Corp. Nixon said he supports changes to the state's tax credit programs and consolidation of government functions to help save money. Republican House and Senate leaders also are looking for ways to scale back Missouri's 2011 budget.