Republican Representative Brian Yates of Lee's Summit, says Democrats want to keep people on Medicaid...but they simply can't figure out how to pay for it.
Rep. Brian Yates, R-Lee's Summit, said the program, which ballooned during the 1990s as more people were added to the rolls and more ineligible participants sought state aid. Yates said dead, out-of-state and ineligible people receiving benefits had caused its cost to spike, requiring changes.
MU graduates Minority Leader Jeff Harris, D-Columbia and Reps. Bryan Pratt, R-Blue Springs, and Brian Yates, R-Lee's Summit, crossed the aisle to oppose the measure while the bill's House sponsor Rep. B.J. Marsh, R-Springfield, was able to enlist some Democratic support as well.