By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri House and Senate have both passed the state budget for Fiscal Year 2009.
The $22.4-billion spending plan provides increases for K-12 schools, state universities, community colleges, and a 3% pay raise for state workers.
It does not include Governor Matt Blunt's Insure Missouri proposal, which would have provided health insurance to about 54,000 low-income Missourians.
House Budget Chairman Allen Icet (R, Wildwood) says the rules didn't allow them to fund it.
"The way the appropriations process works is: To fund a policy change, the policy change has to at least have passed out of the House...so we don't fund things that may not happen," Icet said.
In a press release, Governor Blunt expressed disappointment over Insure Missouri's omission, but praised increases for Missouri HealthNet, which replaces the old Medicaid system.
House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota (D, Independence) says, though, that several items are under-funded, including transportation dollars for school districts.
"We're doing it at $6 million instead of the $50 million that (schools) need...and so it's going to cost them a lot more as fuel prices go up...it's going to be a big burden on the local school districts," LeVota said.
LeVota also said Medicaid benefits cut three years ago remain un-restored.
Governor Blunt is expected to sign the 2009 budget into law sometime next month.