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Missouri Senate drops Medicaid bill that would cut budget costs

May 4, 2004
By: Monica Walter
State Capital Bureau
Links: SB 1566

The Missouri Senate abandoned a bill that would require annual eligibility checks for Medicaid. Monica Walter has more from the state Capitol.

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Senate Minority Floor Leader Ken Jacob filibustered the bill because he said it would cost more money than it would bring in.

But Republicans say the bill would ensure only those eligible for Medicaid would receive it.

Republican leaders says they dropped the bill because of a lack of support.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Mike Gibbons says the bill fell victim to election year politics.

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Contents: "It did receive a 7-2 vote out of committee, it was a bi-partisan issue in committee. Now all of a sudden, it's a partisan issue and that's what happens in an election year."

Legislators say they'll look for other ways to scaleback Medicaid to balance the budget. From the state Capitol, I'm Monica Walter.

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Senate Republican leadership abandoned one of the legislature's most controversial bills...a plan to require an annual eligibility check for people on Medicaid. Monica Walter has more from the state Capitol.

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Republican leaders say rooting out fraud in the health program is one way to contain Medicaid costs... costs they say are ripping a hole in the state's budget.

But a filibuster by Sen. Ken Jacob forced the republicans to drop the plan.

Majority Floor Leader Mike Gibbons says the bill became a partisan issue.

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Contents: " Well I think we had an obviously very difficult time trying to get to a vote on this today. There doesn't seem to be at the moment any likelihood we could get to a vote.

House Budget Committee Chairman Carl Bearden says the legislature will have to look elsewhere for spending cuts to make up for the expanding costs of Medicaid. From the state Capitol, I'm Monica Walter.