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Missouri Digital News
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Missouri Digital News
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Missouri Digital News
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Missouri Digital News
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Missouri Digital News
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Missouri Digital News
One Democratic Senator plans to stop the Governor's medicaid cuts anyway he can.
Dan Frumson has more from the state Capitol.
Medicaid recipients are not the only ones trying to stop Governor Matt Blunt's proposed medicaid cuts.
Democrat Senator Pat Dougherty of St. Louis City says he will fight the medicaid cuts, which are on tonight's Senate agenda.
When asked for a straight answer on whether or not he will filibuster, Dougherty said,
"I brought my tennis shoes. I brought my long underwear. I brought a change of clothes. How's that straight?"
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Director of the Division of Medical Services Mike Ditmore testified at the Senate Appropreations Committee in favor of the cuts.
He says Medicaid accounts for twenty five percent of the state budget, and cuts needed to be made.
From the state Capitol, I'm Dan Frumson.
***
State leaders write their own prescriptions for medicaid cuts.
Dan Frumson has more from the state Capitol.
The Senate Appropriations Committee heard testimony on the Medicaid budget before it moved to the Senate Floor.
Director of Medical Services Mike Ditmore, who testified at the committee hearing, says the cuts are a necessary step in making medicaid better.
"It's sort of grown out of control right now, and this will help bring it back under control, and then do some revision, and do a better job, if you will."
However Democrat Senator Pat Dougherty intends to fight what he says are cruel cuts.
"I've got a goal here; I want these cuts put back in. And I'll stay fighting until I can get the cuts put back in. I mean, these aren't just dollar signs. There's a human being behind every dollar there."
Dougherty also says Governor Blunt needs to balance the budget without removing ninty-thousand Missourians from their only source of health-care.
From the state Capitol, I'm Dan Frumson
***
Still no sign of an end to the filibuster.
Dan Frumson has more from the state Capitol.
The Senate began its session at four o'clock Monday afternoon, and aside of the hour recess for a judiciary committee meeting, there's been no stop, and it looks like there won't be for a while.
Senate Minority Leader Maida Coleman of St. Louis City says the Republican leadership chose not to negotiate with the Democrats on the medicaid cuts.
Republican Senator and President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons said a hard choice had to be made, and Republican leadership will stick by their decision.
"The choices are pretty stark. We've got a two, three hundred million dollar hole in the budget. It's either cut education or try to get medicaid under control. We choose to pursue it through medicaid."
From the state Capitol, I'm Dan Frumson.