By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, Mo. – A Missouri Senate committee today rejected most of a House plan that would have saved millions of dollars by dropping thousands of people from the Medicaid program.
The Senate panel's version has just a few cuts. They go after waste and fraud in Medicaid, which chairman John Cauthorn of Mexico says is important.
When the House passed the bill last month, supporters said they want to slow the growth of Medicaid, while making sure basic services are available for those who really need it.
But some Democrats and advocates for the poor complain that the House version would hurt families, the elderly and disabled.
Wednesday afternoon about 200 people rallied on the Capitol building steps to protest the House plan. The group used signs, megaphones and chants.