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Missouri Senate Dismantles Medicaid

March 15, 2005
By: Tim Carnahan
State Capital Bureau
Links: SB539

On the same day Governor Blunt reaffirmed his committment to Missouri's children, Senate Republicans toughened their cuts to Missouri's Medicaid program. Tim Carnahan has more from the state Capitol.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

Flanked by state education leaders and before a group of fourth graders, Governor Blunt urged the state legislature to pass his proposed 170 million dollar increase in school funding.

One floor above Blunt's office, Saint Louis Senator Democrat Pat Dougherty said a Republican amendment to the proposed cuts to Medicaid is an attack on children.

Actuality:DGHRTY1
RunTime: 19secs
OutCue: "...to trade off later on."
Contents: "What is God's name are we doing here? If we don't care about the elderly and disabled, why are going after children with this bill? The governor didn't ask for it. The bill's sponsor says the governor didn't ask for it. Do you want another chit to trade off later on?"

The amendment, which passed along party lines, requires more parents with children insured through Medicaid to pay for the service.

Democrats say that would cut as many as 48,000 children from the rolls.

Bill sponsor Republican Chuck Purgason says the program is affordable, even with the increased costs to parents.

From the state Capitol, I'm Tim Carnahan.

###TDC###

Democracts rolled their filibuster of the Medicaid bill out of bed and back on to the Senate floor. Tim Carnahan has more from the state Capitol.

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OutCue: SOC

Senate Republicans ended the first round of the filibuster before dawn, but well after midnight.

Democrats revived the filibuster for the morning session.

At times the debate was anything but sleepy.

Democrats talked about a range or topics, from Wal-Mart, to office size, to a battery of health-related issues, including amputations and one Senator's painful plantar's wart.

But, these delay tactics may be useless if Governor Blunt does not softens his stance on raising taxes.

Actuality:BLNT2
RunTime: 13secs
OutCue: "...into the future."
Contents: If you're opposed to social welfare reform, you believe we should just allow those social welfare costs to escalate not just this year, but next year, and on and on into the future."

Republicans passed an ammendment that would require more parents with children insured through Medicaid to pay for that insurance.

Saint Louis County Democrat Senator Pat Dougherty says that could leave 48,000 children without healthcare.

From the state Capitol, I'm Tim Carnahan.

###TDC###

The Missouri Senate has voted to end Medicaid. Tim Carnahan has more from the state Capitol.

Story:
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OutCue: SOC

State Senators voted on party lines to end the current Medicaid program.

Saint Louis County Republican Senator Michael Gibbons proposed the amendment which would end Medicaid by June, 2008, replacing it with a new program.

Saint Louis Democrat Pat Dougherty says the deadline is arbitrary, and could end up hurting those needing insurance.

Actuality:DGHRTY2
RunTime: 12secs
OutCue: "...in terms of this 2008."
Contents: "This is just another case of flawed logic, and the people who have and depend on us for healthcare are going to be at the whim of whatever roll dice happens whoever happens to be in the legislature in terms of this 2008."

Dougherty says ending Medicaid could cost Missouri millions of dollars in Federal funding.

Gibbons says Medicaid is not adequately serving the needs of its recipients and should be dismantled.

From the state Capitol, I'm Tim Carnahan.