A difference of opinions and facts between a senator and a representative of the same party became the dominant issue this morning during the final Eggs and Issues breakfast in Carthage at the Grace Pointe Assembly of God Church.
Missouri Rep. Kevin Wilson of Neosho and Sen. Gary Nodler of Joplin, both Republicans, offered different interpretations and reasons of why some bills were approved and some weren’t.
Wilson’s comments were mainly about a Senate bill that did not pass – legislation proposed to draw down federal money to expand Medicaid to 35,000 able-body adults. The House Insurance Committee, chaired by Wilson, produced a version that would have expanded health care to the uninsurable, which numbers about 100,000 in Missouri.
“We felt better about helping those who have true health needs rather than expand Medicaid,” said Wilson.
The bill came to Wilson’s committee early in the session and he heard it within two weeks.
But according to Nodler, the bill sat in Wilson’s committee for several weeks.
“I really think we missed an opportunity to put the state in a good financial position by not passing this bill,” said Nodler. “A compromise bill was sent to the House, but was never sent to conference committee.”
Wilson said the compromised version of the bill was not acceptable.
“The compromise basically was the same as the original bill except that if there was enough money left over, it would go to the uninsurable,” said Wilson. “It is true that it did not go to conference because we got it on the last day (of session).”
Wilson also said there was a lot of debate regarding the use of federal stimulus money.
“The biggest problem we had is that we had money to spend,” said Wilson. “There were a lot of legislators thinking that we had all this free money and we should spend it. I favored giving all Missourians a $500 rebate. But there were legislators standing up on the House floor saying ‘We can spend it better than they (taxpayers) can.’ I find that insulting.”
Nodler said there was not a proposal for a one-time tax cut linked to federal money.
Wilson also expressed frustration that there were “two or three senators who bogged things down” so many bills did not get passed.
Nodler responded, “those two or three senators all are graduates of the House of
Representatives and they are less mature in the processes and traditions of the Senate.”
Nodler believes that Gov. Jay Nixon may use his line-item veto to cut out some budgetary items to make up for the $200-million shortfall that is projected.
State Rep. Tom Flannigan said his first session was a learning experience.
“I was on the House budget committee and it was an interesting process this year because for the first time since 1821, we crafted two budgets – one for general revenue and another for the $4 billion of stimulus money,” said Flannigan. “I was honored to part of that process.”
