Majority Floor Leader Expresses Frustrations
With Flow of Floor Debate

JEFFERSON CITY— Senate Majority Floor Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, expresses his frustration today with trying to get Senate priorities across the finish line. He said he had hoped Senate Bill 210, which helps provides services to thousands of indigent Missourians, would have been sent to the governor by the end of business last week. Richard said it is his colleagues from across the political aisle who stalled the effort to bring the issue to a vote.

“We stand ready to take up and pass an extension of this program that the State of Missouri has used for decades to take advantage of billions in federal funds,” said Richard. “Instead of joining us in passing this bill used to reimburse hospitals and nursing homes for medical care they provide to struggling families, the minority is threatening to kill it on an unrelated matter.”

Senate Bill 210 is a reauthorization of the Federal Reimbursement Allowance, or FRA. It’s a mechanism to save Missouri tax payers billions of dollars by drawing down federal funding. If not reauthorized, Missouri stands to lose about $3.6 billion in funding.

Richard said this bill must pass if there is any hope in keeping our current funding structure for indigent care in place.

The 2015 First Regular Session of the 98th General Assembly ends on Friday, May 15, 2015 at 6 p.m.

For more on this bill and others, visit www.senate.mo.gov.

Lauren Hieger, Senate Majority Caucus Communications Director
(573) 751-7266 — lauren.hieger@senate.mo.gov