Senator David Sater's Bill Statement on Governor's Veto of Funding for the Missouri Rehabilitation Center

JEFFERSON CITY — State Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, issued the following statement regarding Governor Nixon’s veto of nearly $5.2 million in funding for the Missouri Rehabilitation Center in Mt. Vernon.

“I am extremely disappointed the governor vetoed vital funding for the Missouri Rehabilitation Center. The Rehab Center in Mt. Vernon is a tremendous asset to not only the local community, but the entire state. MRC has been serving patients for more than 100 years and people from all over the country rely on the services they provide. This funding cut could seriously affect operations at MRC.

 

Not once during the budget process did the governor or his staff communicate any concerns about the operation or funding of MRC. In what has become an all too familiar trend, the governor sat on the sidelines the entire legislative session instead of working with lawmakers to solve the state’s problems. Even now, I have received no explanation or rationale as to why MRC’s funding was so drastically cut. The governor’s action is putting the facility’s future in jeopardy and threatening the jobs of so many hard-working people. It seems once again the people of Missouri are pawns in the governor's political games. It’s a shame and it should stop.

 

I am committed to exploring any and all options to restore this funding, including an override of the governor’s veto at the annual veto session in September. Between now and then, I will be working with my colleagues to determine the best course of action.”

MRC receives $10.3 million in funding from the state. A funding cut of nearly $5.2 million is a 50% reduction in the facility’s state appropriation. MRC’s total budget in FY 14 was $31.8 million so a $5.2 million cut is over 16% of their total budget.

The Missouri Rehabilitation Center is a 63-bed hospital, located in Mount Vernon, and serves a unique statewide mission, providing long-term acute care and featuring a nationally-recognized traumatic brain injury treatment program. MRC is a part of the University of Missouri Health System and is the largest employer in Lawrence County.