Mo. House leader touts legislative accomplishments in Cape Girardeau

Tim Jones, Missouri's Republican speaker of the House, visited Cape Girardeau on Friday as part of a statewide end-of-session tour.

Jones was joined at the Delta Companies by state representatives Donna Lichtenegger, R-Jackson, and Kathy Swan, R-Cape Girardeau, with several members of the public.

During a half-hour session, Jones detailed bills the state Legislature passed -- and didn't -- during the session that ended May 17, and discussed several state issues that weren't resolved by lawmakers this year. Among them were funding for transportation and a proposal by Gov. Jay Nixon to expand Medicaid.

Lichtenegger is part of a group of representatives Jones recently appointed to a new panel to evaluate Medicaid reform while the Legislature is on break. Groups in favor of Medicaid expansion descended on the Missouri Capitol during the session, and members since have been attending Jones' tour.

Richard von Glahn, an organizer with the Missouri Jobs with Justice Coalition, went to Jones' Cape Girardeau appearance and asked Jones to explain the House's resistance to Medicaid expansion.

Jones responded that legislators did not run from the issue, but many felt reforms were needed in the system, such as in medical malpractice, before anymore people could be added to the rolls. The governor's proposal asked that the income eligibility limit be raised for adults, which would have meant up to 300,000 more people would be covered.

Jones also said several bills would have expanded Medicaid with some changes from the governor's proposal, and said he thought the expansion proposal would have fared better had the governor proposed it during his campaign for re-election.

Lichtenegger said putting more people "into a system that's already broken" wouldn't help push reforms Jones said are needed.

Republicans have been criticized over their lack of support for the expansion; those who want it say it is needed to help those who work part-time and don't qualify for medical coverage.

"I think we did the fiscally responsible thing and the moral thing," Lichtenegger said.

House successes this session, as described by Jones, included the passage of an income-tax cut for businesses and individuals, legislation that promises to solve problems in the state's fund for disabled workers and the creation of a tax credit program designed to draw sporting events to the state, which could create additional revenue.

Dedicating a significant portion of the state's budget as compared to past years to improving mental-health facilities also was a success, Jones said.

eragan@semissourian.com

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