By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri House has passed the budget bill for the Department of Social Services, which includes much of the funding for Governor Matt Blunt's Missouri HealthNet program.
The debate over funding the newer program instead of restoring cuts made to Medicaid became heated at times.
State Representative Ryan Silvey (R, Kansas City) accused Democrats of not making any real effort to restore the cuts and of not seeking out any new funding.
"Not one time did we have amendments offered for a complete restoration that would cost the approximate $300 to $400 million...and when we're (going to) balance the budget in the state, we need mathematicians, not math-magicians, who just make up money and say, 'We should do this, and that we're gonna get everything covered,'" Silvey said.
But House Minority Leader Paul LeVota took Silvey to task, saying they did make efforts to restore the cuts.
The exchange became heated, as LeVota accused Silvey and other Republican leaders of not wanting to restore any of the cuts made to Medicaid in 2005.
"JUST SAY YOU DON'T WANT TO! OKAY?! YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT! THAT'S FINE!" LeVota yelled as Silvey tried to get a word in about inflated numbers.
The bill passed on a sharp party-line vote, 86-63. It later passed the Senate 30-1, and is now on its way to Governor Blunt.