http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/housegives_634.mp3
Lawmakers in the House gave final approval to the state's budget Wednesday, sending it to the Senate for consideration. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
AFTER A DAY OF BUDGET DEBATE THAT WAS SOMETIMES RAUCOUS, THE SECOND DAY OF DEBATE WAS MORE SUBDUED.
DEMOCRATS COMPLAINED THE REPUBLICAN-BACKED PLAN DOESN'T PROVIDE ENOUGH FUNDING FOR EDUCATION, HEATH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA FRASER OBJECTED TO THE FUNDING PROPOSAL FOR THE STATE'S HEALTH CARE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN.
BUT REPUBLICANS ARGUE THE PROGRAM NEEDS TO BE SCALED BACK BECAUSE IT'S TOO LARGE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE POOREST FAMILIES.
IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE, THERE ARE ONLY A FEW DOCTORS AND DENTISTS WHO PROVIDE CARE TO MEDICAID RECIPIENTS BECAUSE THE REIMBURSEMENT RATE IS SO LOW.
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE CHUCK PURGASON SAYS BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID, MORE PEOPLE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO CARE.
BESIDES TALKING ABOUT MEDICAID SPENDING, DEMOCRATS ALSO RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE STAGNANT FUNDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
BOTH DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR BOB HOLDEN AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS PROPOSED SPENDING THE SAME AMOUNT AS LAST YEAR ON THE STATE'S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE JEFF HARRIS SAYS MISSOURI RANKS NEAR THE BOTTOM IN SPENDING ON HIGHER EDUCATION.
MANY STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES HAVE RAISED TUITION BECAUSE OF FUNDING CUTS IN RECENT YEARS.
BUT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE CARL BEARDEN SAYS THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH STUDENTS HAVING TO PAY FOR THEIR EDUCATION.
IN ADDITION TO EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT FUNDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, DEMOCRATS ALSO ARGUED AGAINST THE ELIMINATION OF ABOUT 500 VACANT POSITIONS IN STATE GOVERNMENT.
DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE VICKY RIBACK WILSON SAYS DEPARTMENTS USE THAT MONEY TO PAY EXISTING EMPLOYEES WHO WORK OVERTIME.
BUT THE BUDGET CHAIRMAN CARL BEARDEN SAYS DEPARTMENTS WILL STILL BE ABLE TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.
THE BUDGET PROPOSAL DOES INCLUDE FUNDING FOR A 2 PERCENT PAY RAISE FOR STATE WORKERS, SOMETHING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR BOB HOLDEN HAD PROPOSED.
THE BUDGET NOW MOVES TO THE SENATE FOR CONSIDERATION.
I'M MISSY SHELTON FOR KSMU NEWS.