JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's House has begun debate on the Senate-passed plan to make a series of cuts in the state's Medicaid program that provides health care coverage for lower income and middle income Missourians.

House leaders are pushing to send the bill to the governor this week, before the House starts on the budget that would implement the actual cuts.

Amost 100,000 Missourians would lose Medicaid coverage under the plan which the governor says is necessary because of the state's budget problems.

JEFFERSON CITY - Hundreds of protestors came to the Capitol on Wednesday to protest Medicaid cuts before they pass in the House.

The bill proposing the cuts passed in the Senate last month and will be debated today in the House.

JEFFERSON CITY - The Senate sponsor of legislation to ban human cloning and stem cell research shelved his bill after facing threats of a filibuster from fellow Republicans.

The bill had faced strong opposition from the St. Louis area business community. In addition, Republican senators warned that the governor would veto the bill and that would trigger opposition to the Republican party from their normal allies in the anti-abortion movement.

JEFFERSON CITY - Parents, doctors, and religious leaders rallied on the steps of the state Capitol chanting, "don't cut Medicaid", and "recall Blunt" in protest of proposed healthcare cuts.

Republican Representative Charles Portwood of Ballwin, MO says Medicaid cuts are the compassionate reaction to budget problems because without them no one would receive health care.

JEFFERSON CITY - Former House Budget Chairman Carl Bearden, R-St. Charles, proposed a series of changes to how higher education is funded.

Bearden said the changes were an attempt to increase efficiency and keep pace with a changing national landscape.

JEFFERSON CITY - Gas prices are closing in on record highs everywhere, but where you live can mean a difference of as much as 25 cents a gallon.

Today at the state Capitol a lobbyist for Missouri gas station operators told represenatives there's nothing wrong with that.

JEFFERSON CITY - The bill would allow the replacement of up to two sets of two license plate tabs when stolen.

The bill's sponsor, St. Louis Rep. Amber Boykins, says the move would help Missouri motorists fight an increasing threat.

JEFFERSON CITY - Democratic Senator Harry Kennedy's bill would create a state board to oversee private investigators and licensing.

Every state bordering Missouri requires licensing for PIs.

JEFFERSON CITY - The House Rules Committee sent Gov. Matt Blunt's proposed cuts, which would drop nearly 90,000 people off of Medicaid rolls, on to the chamber's floor Monday. Seven hours were set for debate with half slated for supporters and half for opponents.

"We're likely to bring it up, likliest, Wednesday afternoon," said House Floor Leader Tom Dempsey (R-St. Charles).

JEFFERSON CITY - The Director of the Department of Transportation Pete Rahn and others addressed the media at a small park just off of Highway 63 North of Ashland.

Rahn then sat at his desk in the right hand lane and took questions. He said he was there to promote highway safety.