Lawmakers go home for spring break with many issues still to address
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Lawmakers go home for spring break with many issues still to address

Date: March 19, 2015
By: Steven Anthony
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
Despite the dire warnings from MoDOT about the state's transportation funding crisis, lawmakers have yet to address the issue as they go home for spring break
RunTime:  0:33
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: House Speaker John Diehl was asked about the legislature not doing much with the state's growing transportation funding crisis and he said one issue must be addressed first before everything else.

Actuality:  DIEHL70.WAV
Run Time:  00:13
Description: "It's very difficult to address what our long-term transportation solution is going to be without figuring out what the options are on Interstate 70. Everything else is just a Band-Aid."

Diehl also said getting lawmakers to approve any tax increase would be very difficult to achieve.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.

Intro: 
Lawmakers head home for spring break while making some progress on Ferguson-related issues, but that's not enough to some Democrats.
RunTime:  0:40
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: House Speaker John Diehl said the legislature has made progress on Ferguson-related issues, but he said calling the issues Ferguson-related is not the best way to describe it.

Actuality:  DIEHLFER.WAV
Run Time:  00:14
Description: "I think it's a mistake to try to fashion legislation to address a specific situation. I think we have to look at the culture and look at the overall issue that's happening."

That wasn't enough for House Democratic Leader Jacob Hummel.

Actuality:  HUMFERG.WAV
Run Time:  00:06
Description: "It appears that House Speaker Diehl, who on opening day said that we're not going to have a Ferguson agenda in the House, is being true to his word."

Lawmakers return to the Capitol on March 30.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.  

Intro: 
Democrats scolded Republicans for not expanding Medicaid while advocates for expansion rallied in the Capitol Thursday, delaying the start of the Senate
RunTime:  0:29
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: House Democratic Leader Jacob Hummel said Republicans are refusing to do the right thing by not expanding Medicaid to eligible Missourians.

Actuality:  HUMMED.WAV
Run Time:  00:07
Description: "By not expanding Medicaid, 300,000 Missourians will continue to needlessly go without health care access."

House Speaker John Diehl said the House will look at possible reforms to Medicaid, but did not commit to any specifics, only saying it would be part of the House's agenda after spring break.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.