Fulton State Hospital funding causes confusion
The future of funding for a new Fulton State Hospital caused confusion at the Capitol on Wednesday.
At a meeting of mental health advocates at the Capitol and later in a statement emailed to news outlets, Nixon lashed out at House members for allegedly stripping funding for a new facility from the budget.
“The House Budget Committee’s vote to strip funding for this long-overdue public safety priority from the supplemental budget puts patients and caregivers at risk,” Nixon said in the statement. “Without these resources in the budget, we will be unable to move forward with the planning and design process for this urgent project. I urge the members of the House and Senate to right this wrong and put the health and safety of our communities first.”
But House leaders from both parties told ABC 17 News Wednesday that the accused action Tuesday night never happened.
“Completely, utterly false,” said House Speaker Tim Jones. “[It] is a blatant falsehood and political gamesmanship at its worst. It is extremely disappointing to see him engage in such disingenuous actions and to see the media repeat his misleading statements as fact.”
Rep. Jeremy LaFaver (D- Kansas City) told ABC 17 News there was never a vote and the governor’s statement was factually incorrect.
“The House Budget Committee did not act in any way on Fulton [Tuesday],” said committee member and Columbia Democrat Rep. Chris Kelly. “The governor’s comments are just plain false.”
Shortly after, House Budget Chairman Rick Stream (R-Kirkwood) issued a statement that he was working on an alternative funding proposal for Fulton State Hospital to be announced next Monday.
“The governor is working to stop a much-needed project because I am exploring all of my options before passing the cost onto my grandkids,” said Stream. “I have stated publically [sic] and personally to the governor that the House will announce a funding proposal for Fulton State Hospital that will protect the taxpayers and finish the project on a timeline similar to what the governor has proposed.”
Gov. Nixon proposed a multi-year bonding issue to pay for a new facility in his State of the State address last month.
