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

Mo. Gov. takes no stance on health care exchange

jay nixon
File Photo
/
KBIA
Governor Jay Nixon

The idea of a health care exchange in Missouri continues to be a political sticking point between Republicans and Democrats. And Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has yet to take a stance on the issue.

The day after Republican Lt. Governor Peter Kinder filed a lawsuit that alleges the wording for a healthcare exchange ballot initiative is misleading; Governor Jay Nixon did his best to sidestep the issue.

In fact, Nixon says he hasn’t really looked at how the ballot measure is written. As for the idea of healthcare exchanges in general, the governor isn’t ready to commit.

“There are choices to be made about Missouri being in charge of programs in Missouri, and I look to working with members of legislature to move forward where we can to improve the quality of healthcare in the state," said Nixon.

Nixon was touring the state Wednesday and stopped in St. Louis to ceremonially sign a bill that he says will help protect the elderly and people with disabilities from abuse and discrimination.

Tim Lloyd grew up north of Kansas City and holds a masters degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Prior to joining St. Louis Public Radio, he launched digital reporting efforts for Harvest Public Media, a Corporation for Public Broadcasting funded collaboration between Midwestern NPR member stations that focuses on agriculture and food issues. His stories have aired on a variety of stations and shows including Morning Edition, Marketplace, KCUR, KPR, IPR, NET, WFIU. He won regional Edward R Murrow Awards in 2013 for Writing, Hard News and was part of the reporting team that won for Continuing Coverage. In 2010 he received the national Debakey Journalism Award and in 2009 he won a Missouri Press Association award for Best News Feature.