Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has called for a special state legislative session to allocate “critical funding” for state police and the National Guard in the wake of protests in Ferguson. Nixon arranged a late-night call with state legislative leaders and expressed the urgency of making sure that Guard members are paid on December 15. “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,” he said. It is unclear how much more money is needed. The state’s current fiscal year budget allots $4 million for National Guard emergency response and $3.4 million for an agency that handled emergency expenses (including state troopers).