By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – As the 2008 legislative session winds down, Missouri Democrats say Republican leaders have continued to deny crucial health coverage to the state's neediest.
But it was the top Republican in the Missouri House, Speaker Rod Jetton (R, Marble Hill) who on Thursday questioned Democrats' resolve over how he says they've handled their top legislative priority.
Jetton says during debate on health care legislation this week, House Democrats only made one attempt to restore some of the cuts.
"I'm just saying they're welcome to do it, and I'd vote against it, but I'm just surprised that it never gets done, when every time you're out and about, that's the Number One priority (that Democrats talk about)," Jetton said.
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota (D, Independence) says, though, they've offered several proposals to restore Medicaid cuts, to no avail. He accuses G.O.P. leaders of playing political games.
"The examples of the tax credits (given) to one developer (St. Louis area developer Paul McKee) shows that when they have the will to get things done, they do it...if the Republican Party and the majority has the will to reinstate the cuts, they simply could do it, we would find $200 million...we've given them (a) whole bunch of ways to do that, and they have simply not wanted to," LeVota said
The 2008 session ends May 16th.