Mo. GOP budget leaders pan Nixon's health plan

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Republican budget leaders say Jay Nixon's health care plan is too costly for the state to afford.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate has proposed to reverse the 2005 Medicaid cuts that eliminated government-run health coverages for tens of thousands of Missourians and reduced benefits for many others.

Nixon also proposed last week to allow middle-class families to buy into a government program for their children's health insurance.

His plan was criticized Monday by the Capitol's top Republican budget writers -- Senate Appropriations Chairman Gary Nodler, House Budget Chairman Allen Icet and Gov. Matt Blunt's budget chief, Larry Schepker.

They says Nixon's plan can't be accomplished without cuts in other parts of the budget or without raising taxes. Nixon says no new taxes will be needed.