Mo. House leader rejects call for special session

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- House Speaker Steven Tilley says there is no need for a special session to decide whether Missouri should opt out of a Medicaid expansion.

Tilley's comments Friday came after at least two state senators called for a special session. Sens. Brad Lager and Bill Stouffer cited a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision saying states cannot be penalized with the loss of their existing federal Medicaid dollars if they refuse to go along with an expansion included in President Barack Obama's health care law.

Other Republican legislative leaders already have said Missouri will not expand Medicaid eligibility.

Tilley said he doesn't want to waste taxpayer money for a special session.

He cited last year's failure by legislators to pass an economic development bill during a special session.