Mo. House defeats cut to welfare drug treatment

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri House has defeated an attempt to boost funding for the blind by cutting money that would provide treatment to welfare recipients who test positive for drugs.

The House voted 102-49 Tuesday to turn back the $1.1 million cut to the drug treatment program proposed by Democratic Rep. Sara Lampe, of Springfield. She had argued that it was more important to restore money to a health care program for the blind.

As proposed, the House budget would eliminate a $30 million program that provides medical care to about 2,800 blind people and instead set aside $6 million for a slimmed-down aid program for the blind. Lampe's amendment would have bumped up that amount.

House members were expected to continue debate on the blind aid program into Tuesday night.