By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – About 400 people filled the Missouri state Capitol on Tuesday to rally against proposed cuts to the Medicaid system.
Many were advocates for the disabled; one speaker drew thunderous applause when he said Blunt is trying to do something to disgrace the citizens of Missouri and cut Medicaid to the very people who can't afford it.
State Senator Kevin Engler is one of two Senate Republicans who voted against the Medicaid cuts. He said at the rally that lawmakers need to do a better job addressing fraud in the system. He also says there needs to be a push for a tax increase on gambling or cigarettes to pay for vital Medicaid services.
But Blunt says tax increases hurt the economy. And he adds the only way to send more money to schools and balance the state's budget without a tax hike is to scale back Medicaid.
Blunt's proposal would drop about 100,000 of the 1,000,000 Missourians on Medicaid.
KWMU Web Extra: To hear a report from Missy Shelton about the rally, click here --->
