House Committee Omits Kids’ Health Care From Bill

The House Budget Committee on Feb. 25 approved a supplemental spending bill for the current state budget that omits funding recommended by Gov. Jay Nixon that would extend health care coverage to about 20,000 Missouri children. Nixon had asked for the funding when he submitted his supplemental budget last month. However, House Budget Committee Chairman Alan Icet left it out of the bill, HB 14. Committee Democrats attempted to add the health care funding to the bill but were thwarted by Republicans on procedural grounds.