© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Senate Narrowly Passes Missouri Social Services Budget

The capitol building in Jefferson City
j. stephenconn
/
Flickr
The capitol building in Jefferson City

Missouri senators have narrowly passed a budget for state social services despite hours of late-night debate and filibusters.

The budget passed with the minimum 18 votes needed early Wednesday. Fifteen lawmakers voted against it.

Senators debated late Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning on a proposal in the bill to move 200,000 Missourians from fee-for-service Medicaid to managed care.

Other bipartisan criticism stemmed from an increase of roughly $100 million less for the department next year compared to House recommendations.

The bill passed in a rare second vote after senators first defeated it 17-15.

Lead budget writer Republican Sen. Kurt Schaefer says it's unclear what would have happened if the bill failed.

The more than $8 billion budget plan outlines spending for seniors, people with mental illness and foster 

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.
Related Content