"We need to learn from the circumstances we create by our actions and inactions," Sen. Victor Callahan, D-Independence, said."There's so little trust in here."
One major issue was medicaid fraud, an issue the senate tried to address two years ago.Democratic Senator Victor Callahan says the past bill put the cart before the horse in its attempt to curtail fraud.
A provision for Medicaid fraud was added to the bill during Wednesday's debate after Sen. Victor Callahan, D-Jackson County proposed an amendment to include it. Citing concern that the House would reject the entire bill because of the provision, similar to what happened to the Medicaid fraud bill last session, Sen. Luann Ridgeway submitted a Medicaid fraud bill already passed by the House this session, sponsored by Rep. Robert Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, to replace Callahan's amendment.
Democrat Victor Callahan spoke passionately on the House floor in hopes of passing an amendment that he said would restore Medicaid coverage to about 37,000 people.
The bill passed with a vote of 23-11, with every Republican voting yes except Sen. Matt Bartle, R-Jackson County, and with every Democrat voting no except Sens. Frank Barnitz, D-Lake Springs, Victor Callahan, D-Jackson County, and Maida Coleman, D-St. Louis.
Sen. Victor Callahan, D-Jackson County, proposed that the state refund half of its 2006 surplus, saying returning the money to state residents would benefit both Missouri families and the economy.
The "previous question" motion to stop debate on Nodler's bill passed 20-13 with every Republican voting yes except Sen. Matt Bartle, R-Lee's Summit. The bill was then voted on and passed 22-11 with every Republican except Bartle voting yes and only one Democrat voting yes -- Sen. Victor Callahan, D-Independence.
Sen. Victor Callahan, D-Jackson County, proposed that the state refund half of its 2006 surplus, saying returning the money to state residents would benefit both Missouri families and the economy.
10 stories found
Missouri Digital News is produced by Missouri Digital News, Inc. -- a non profit organization of current and former journalists.