State budget approved by the House and being sent to the Governor for approval
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The state budget has been passed by the House and will move onto Gov. Mike Parson's desk and needs to be signed by July 1, the beginning of the state's fiscal year.
The state budget will need to be passed for 2022. The anticipated budget will be around $35 billion dollars.
Some of the more controversial topics on the budget deal with the subjects of education, transportation, and Medicaid funding.
The budget increased funding for public schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Democrats were pleased with increased funding for public defenders while republicans applauded more money into the foster care system.
Representative David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia), said he was happy to see public defenders get more aid.
"Some good things that happened today budget-wise," Smith said. "I am pleased that we're able to fund public defenders cause they've been overloaded a lot of waitlists, so now we've finally provided the money so they can do their jobs."
Representative Dirk Deaton (R-Newton, McDonald), said he was glad a large amount of money was being awarded to the foster care system.
"There's more than 90 million dollars within house bill 11 and new decision items, new money for foster care and adoption-related items," said Deaton.
Last August, voters approved a Medicaid expansion of funding and recently the Missouri Senate voted against additional funding. The Senate voted against the expansion stating the cost would be too high for the state. Democrats argued the funding would give people medical care who were working multiple jobs and still couldn't afford health care. Supporters of expansion say it would also pump more federal dollars into the state.
Democrats say since the Medicaid expansion was voted on by the people, if residents are denied funding if they apply after July 1, there could be lawsuits.
A total of 19 bills passed are now moving to Governor Parson's desk for approval. The House agreed and passed HB 19 with appropriations with a vote of 100-45. The House then adjourned just before 1:15 p.m.
Last week the budget was approved by the Missouri Senate. According to the Missouri Senate Twitter account, the Senate was in session just before 11 a.m. this morning and will come back into session on Monday, May 10 at 2 p.m.
