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Lawmaker Calls On Gov. Nixon To Preserve Dental Benefits In State Budget

State Rep. Sue Allen, R-Town and Country
Mo. House Communications
State Rep. Sue Allen, R-Town and Country

A Missouri lawmaker is calling on Gov. Jay Nixon to preserve dental benefits for Medicaid recipients in next year's state budget when he signs the $26.4 billion spending plan into law later this month.

State Rep. Sue Allen, R-Town and Country
Credit Mo. House Communications
State Rep. Sue Allen, R-Town and Country

State Rep. Sue Allen, R-Town and Country, chairs the committee that oversees budget writing for the three state agencies that handle Medicaid spending -- the departments of mental health, health and senior services, and social services.

"I would encourage anyone who really cares significantly about the adult dental (program) to communicate to the governor's office, and beyond, to spread the word," Allen told committee members Monday in Jefferson City.

Lawmakers restored Medicaid benefits covering dental services, along with physical, occupational and speech therapies when they passed the fiscal year 2015 state budget last month.  Those benefits were eliminated in 2005 by former Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, a Republican.

Nixon, a Democrat, and the GOP-led legislature have clashed every year over various budget items, and each year Nixon has announced several cuts and delayed expenditures on the same dates that he signed the budget into law.  He has until June 30 to take action on the 13 bills that make up Missouri's budget.  

His office has not yet commented on Allen's statement.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:  @MarshallGReport

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Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.
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