House passes $26 billion budget after debate over education funding and Medicaid expansion
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House passes $26 billion budget after debate over education funding and Medicaid expansion

Date: March 12, 2015
By: Steven Anthony
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
The House passed all 13 budget bills Thursday, but that was after a sometimes contentious debate over one particular subject
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Wrap: Fighting off charges that House Republicans aren't funding public education enough, southwest Missouri Republican Scott Fitzpatrick said the governor, who is a Democrat, is the one who doesn't do enough to fund education.

Actuality:  FITZPAT.WAV
Run Time:  00:17
Description: "The governor recommended a $50 million increase to the foundation formula. This body, when we pass this bill today, will have appropriated an additional $75 million in general revenue to the foundation formula over what we appropriated last year and $25 million more than what the governor requested in his budget."

All 13 budget bills now go to the Senate.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.  

Intro: 
Democrats continued to press the need for Missouri to expand Medicaid as the House passed its budget Thursday
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Wrap: On Tuesday, Democrats lost a vote where they sought to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

During the budget debate on Thursday, St. Louis County Democrat Margo McNeil said the state is not leaving those without insurance in limbo. 

Actuality:  MCNEILMO.WAV
Run Time:  00:12
Description: "We have the opportunity and have had the opportunity for two years to give them insurance, to provide them with the opportunity for health care and we're not doing it."

Republicans countered and said the state cannot afford to take on new Medicaid enrollees, given that the state is already spending billions in the current system.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.