Education wins, Greitens and abortion providers lose in Missouri House budget
Legislators shot down key priorities in Republican Gov.
Here's a scorecard.
Winner: Higher education
Colleges and universities were spared another
To hold on to those funds,
Rep.
"If there is a silver lining to all the proposed cuts that were put out there, it's allowed us to focus in on higher ed this year in such a way that hopefully we can continue to gain on this momentum going into the future," Kendrick said.
Loser: Abortion providers
Republican Rep.
"I'm saying that I don't want our tax dollars used for elective abortions in these clinics," Ross said during Tuesday's debate. "It's just that simple."
Ross and Rep.
"There's a federal law that talks about this, gentleman, and I'm so sick of this on this floor -- of people like you getting up and acting like you know something that you don't," said Morgan, a
States can choose whether they want to use their state Medicaid funds -- without federal dollars -- to provide abortion, but according to the
"It is unacceptable that lawmakers voted to cut Missourians' access to preventive care like birth control and (sexually transmitted infection) testing and treatment," said M'Evie Mead, director of policy and organizing for Planned Parenthood Advocates in
Winner: K-12 education
The win for schools comes with caveats. Morgan said she was disappointed that the House didn't add more funds for school transportation. Districts will have to use some of their base funding for that, she said.
"What that means is districts -- they've got to get those kids to school, so they're going to have to pay for that bus transportation," Morgan said.
Loser:
The
Greitens had sought to take almost
"
Greitens also had sought to boost infrastructure spending through a program Fitzpatrick said wasn't "fully baked."
"There's really no statutory guidance on something like that, and we would just be giving kind of full discretion to the department with a pretty large sum of money," Fitzpatrick said.
Greitens' office did not respond to a request for comment.
Mixed results: Low-income seniors, disabled people
"Hopefully that will provide a little bit of relief to Medicaid providers and help them be able to have lower turnover (and) provide better service to people in need," Fitzpatrick said.
Rep.
She called the restoration "better than nothing."
"Did you need to get help getting up this morning? Did you need any help get shower? How about get dressed? How about prepare for the day?" Lavender said on the House floor before voting against the bill funding the state's health programs.
Lavender said disabled people may need help living independently that lawmakers don't.
She also tried to restore MORx, a prescription drug coverage program for low-income seniors that was cut last year. More than 60,000 seniors lost their coverage.
"Were you able to take all your medications this morning that you were supposed to take, or are you spreading them out because you can't afford all the doctor prescribed to keep you healthy?" Lavender said. "Did your loved one get the care they needed in their nursing home this morning, or is the nursing home short of staff and no one answered their call button for 30 minutes or more while they sat in soiled linen?"
Fitzpatrick disputed the notion that various state funds represent a pool of cash and called amendments drawing money from those funds "fake." He said those funds fluctuate widely, may be close to empty on some days and are not reliable sources of money.
"I'm happy if they want to have a real debate about do we fund tourism or do we fund (consumer-directed services)? Do we fund these higher ed cooperative projects, like the med school in
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