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Advocates for the disabled voiced concern over a Senate bill that would cut medicaid.

April 1, 2004
By: Almitra Smith
State Capital Bureau
Links: SB 1566

Representatives of various welfare organizations voiced opposition to a bill they say will leave deserving people without medicaid.

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Under the bill, unspecified welfare programs could be funded on a year to year basis.

Beverly Armstrong of the Missouri Council of the Blind says it will allow politicians to balance the budget on the backs of the needy.

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Contents: "The blind, other disabled, the elderly, as well as thousands of children will be at the mercy of the legislature each year."

St. Louis County Republican Senator John Loudon says the changes are necessary to keep medicaid going.

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Contents: "Times aren't good and we have been more perhaps generous taking in a bigger chunk of the population than we really as a state can afford to."

The measure already passed the House and is pending before the Senate.

From the State Capitol, I'm Almitra Smith

Date04/01/04

By: Almitra Smith

State Capital Bureau

Advocates of the disabled testified against a proposed measure aimed at reducing Medicaid costs.

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The bill makes it possible for legislatures to create funding limits for state Medicaid programs that currently expand to fund all eligible.

St. Louis County Republican Senator John Loudon says the state has more programs than it can afford.

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Contents: "Those optional benefits we can afford lets do them, but we've locked them in. We've kind of got a runaway train now because we've locked in so many programs."

Beverly Armstrong, from the Missouri Council of The Blind, spoke against the bill saying it's the most needy who will suffer.

Actuality: armstrg1.wav
RunTime:
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Contents: "The blind, other disabled, the elderly, as well as thousands of children will be at the mercy of the legislature each year."

The bill already passed in the House and is pending before the Senate.

From the State Capitol, I'm Almitra Smith.