Passing the Budget
The Missouri General Assembly has one job that is specifically mandated by the constitution. We must pass a balanced budget. We moved one step closer to fulfilling that obligation with the passage of 13 Senate budget bills this week. Differences between the Senate budget and the spending proposals offered by the House of Representatives must be resolved by May 10.
Both the Senate and House versions of the budget call for the state to spend about $30 billion in 2020. About $10 billion will come from general revenue. The rest comes from the federal government and other sources.
The largest share of the state budget funds services for the sick, disabled and elderly. Missouri will spend more than $11 billion on Medicaid expenses next year. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education receives $6.2 billion, which includes $3.5 billion for full funding of the School Foundation Formula.
Colleges and universities will also receive a boost in the 2020 budget. Each of the state’s four-year institutions – including Missouri Western University in St. Joseph – will see their core funding increased by $1 million. With increasing core budgets, these schools have better assurance the money will continue to be appropriated in years to come.
I’m proud to be part of a Republican-led legislature that is prioritizing public education. Some people say “money talks.” This year’s budget says loudly that public education and the future of our children and college students is a top priority.
Battle for the FRA
Before the Senate moved onto the budget, we were asked to renew the sunset provision of the federal reimbursement allowance. Known as the FRA, this two-decade-old program imposes fees on hospitals and other medical providers. That money is routed through the federal government, which sends it back to the state with additional matching funds. The FRA program provides more than 17 percent of the cost of the state’s Medicaid program. A balanced budget would be difficult, if not impossible, without the FRA.
Senate Bill 29, which renewed the FRA program, was brought before the full Senate early this week and quickly turned into a fight. Some senators opposed an additional fee for managed care programs. Other senators offered amendments to establish work requirements for anyone receiving state benefits. A filibuster of the underlying bill ensued and, we remained in the Senate chamber until after midnight.
In the end, both the managed care fee and the work requirements were stripped from the bill before final passage. Personally, I supported the work requirements amendment to the bill. The work requirements were not onerous – something as simple as caring for your own children would qualify. While I understand that government must provide a basic safety net for some of our most vulnerable citizens, we should require that able-bodied adults seek employment and care for their children as a basic requirement to receiving government assistance.
Child Protection Bill Approved
This week the Senate took up an omnibus bill from the House that combines several measures to protect children and prevent sex trafficking. House Bill 397 establishes age as an “affirmative defense” for prostitution. The measure assumes that children under the age of majority engaged in prostitution have been coerced into the illegal activity. The bill also criminalizes the operation of websites that promote prostitution, improves Missouri’s Amber Alert system for missing children, and modifies a number of provisions of Missouri law concerning foster care and child support.
There are numerous provisions in this legislation, but all of them are aimed at protecting Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens. It’s important to protect our kids, and I’m happy to see this bill advance.
Bringing in the Closer
I had the pleasure this week of welcoming 2015 World Champion Kansas City Royals pitcher Chris Young to the State Capitol. Now vice president of on-field operations for Major League Baseball, Young came to Jefferson City to pitch his support for an amendment I offered to Senate Bill 44. The bill would allow sportsbook gambling and online sports betting in Missouri.
My amendment to the bill requires league-supplied data to be used to settle sports wagers. It’s important that outcomes are based on reliable information. My language also imposes a quarter-percent “integrity fee” on all bets, to help sports teams and leagues cover increased compliance expenses.
Sports betting is happening now illegally in Missouri. If sports wagering should become legal, we need appropriate regulations to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of the games. I’m proud to stand with Missouri’s universities, professional sports teams and consumers by offering this amendment.
Giving Voters the Choice on Term Limits
Finally, my Senate Joint Resolution 14 received a hearing in the House of Representatives this week. This measure asks voters to determine whether term limits should be imposed on all statewide elected officials. Currently, only the governor and state treasurer are subject to term limits.
If this measure passes and is confirmed by a vote of the people, all statewide office holders could serve only two four-year terms. The voters have been adamant in their support of limited terms of service for legislators and two statewide officials. Hopefully, we’ll get to see what they say about extending those limits to the lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and auditor as well.
It is my great honor to represent the citizens of Buchanan and Platte counties in the Missouri Senate. Please contact my office at 573-751-2183, or visit www.senate.mo.gov/luetkemeyer.