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Medicaid cuts signed into law

April 26, 2005
By: Tim Carnahan
State Capital Bureau
Links: SB539

Governor Matt Blunt has signed into law a bill cutting the Missouri Medicaid rolls. Tim Carnahan has more from the state Capitol.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The 34-year-old Republican governor's call to cut the Medicaid rolls embroiled his freshman year in controversy.

The bill Blunt signed cuts healthcare for nearly 100-thousand Missourians this year.

He maintains the cuts are necessary to balance the budget.

Actuality:BLNTMD
RunTime: 14secs
OutCue: ...state spending.
Contents: This is not Washington D.C. We don't print money. We have to balance the budget and the only alternatives are to increase taxes -- and again I think a tax increase is harmful to our economy and our working families -- and decrease state spending.

A Senate budget committee has recommended restoring some of the cuts with a five percent cut to higher education funding.

Blunt said he was open to using his line-item veto power on budget items restoring money cut from some Medicaid services.

From the state Capitol, I'm Tim Carnahan.

###TDC###

The bill cutting nearly 100-thousand from the Missouri Medicaid rolls has been signed into law. Tim Carnahan has more from the state Capitol.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The Medicaid bill was nothing if not controversial.

Throughout the session crowds of Medicaid recipients, caregivers, and family members travelled to the Capitol to protest the cuts.

And state Democrats charged that the disabled and elderly will be among the almost 100-thousand losing healthcare under the bill.

Blunt said the cuts, and the plan to replace the current Medicaid system with a cheaper version, are needed to keep the program around for the long-term.

Actuality:BLNTVTO3
RunTime: 9secs
OutCue: ...the next twelve months.
Contents: I think we need to create a program that is sustainable for Missouri taxpayers. We shouldn't just try to find a way to sustain the program for the next twelve months.

A Senate budget committee has recommended restoring some of the cuts with a five percent cut to higher education funding.

Blunt said he was open to using his line-item veto power on budget items restoring money cut from some Medicaid services.

From the state Capitol, I'm Tim Carnahan.