As deadline approaches, the Missouri House continues budget work
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As deadline approaches, the Missouri House continues budget work

Date: May 6, 2009
By: Lauren Stenzel
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB 2, HB 3, HB 4, HB 5, HB 6, HB 7, HB 8, HB 9, HB 10, HB 11, HB 12, Intro: As the constitutional deadline for finishing the state budget is merely two days away, the House is making  progress, but not without some roadblocks.

Lauren Stenzel has more from Jefferson City.

RunTime:0:38
OutCue: SOC

Thirteen bills are one step away from moving on to the Senate after a second reading in the House Wednesday.

The majority of Wednesday's floor debate was over the Medicaid portion of a budget bill.

Republican Representative Allen Icet and Democratic Representative Trent Skaggs argued over the amount that should be used for Medicaid.

Actuality:  SKAGGS1.WAV
Run Time: 00:11

Description: Skaggs:  "The House of Representatives has increased their budget one million dollars."

Icet:  "And why is that? Why is that?"

Skaggs:  "Why is it? Because we don't find it in our heart to insure 35,000 children."

After much debate, the House sent the bill to Conference Committee.

Reporting from the State Captiol, I'm Lauren Stenzel. 

Intro: Things were running smoothly on the House Floor Wednesday as representatives advanced thirteen budget bills, but there was one bill that caused some bumps in the road.

Lauren Stenzel has more from Jefferson City.

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OutCue: SOC

Senators emotionally debated the portion of the budget bills revolving around Medicaid, and stopped it's progress on the floor by sending it to conference committee.

Democratic Representative Trent Skaggs passionatly defended Medicaid.  

 

Actuality:  SKAGGS22.WAV
Run Time: 00:15
Description: "If we are not willing to insure 35,000 people,  but we're willing to sit here and increase our own budgets, increase our office expenses, and there's no recognition that we're driving expenses up, just like you've accused the health care providers."

The House only has a few days left to complete the budget.

The state constitution says it must be completed by 6 p.m. Friday.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Lauren Stenzel.