NAEGER SPEAKS AGAINST KIDS CARE BILL

Democrats are playing hard ball to pass a Kids Care bill that is steeped in bureaucratic, big government, state Rep. Patrick Naeger said Friday.

Naeger, R-Perryville, said the Democratic leadership prevented him and other Republicans from offering amendments to the bill on the House floor Tuesday.

The Democratic-led House then gave first-round approval to the bill.

"Even though Bob Griffin isn't here anymore, his ghost is still haunting the chamber," Naeger told a luncheon meeting of the Southeast Missouri Area Pachyderm Club.

The Republican gathering was held at Port Cape Girardeau Restaurant.

Before retiring from the Legislature, Griffin wielded political clout as House speaker. He was roundly criticized by Republicans for his strong-arm legislative tactics.

The Kids Care legislation would establish a not-for-profit corporation to pool health-insurance coverage for the 175,000 Missouri children who aren't covered by either Medicaid or private health plans.

On Thursday the House leadership tried to get final approval of the legislation, HB 811. But the House adjourned after more than an hour of debate after it was clear that the Democrats didn't have the votes to pass it, Naeger said.

Nine of the 86 House Democrats were absent, leaving the majority party without the 82 votes needed to pass the bill, Naeger said.

On the surface, the legislation seems hard to oppose, Naeger said. But the reality, he said, is that it would become just another government program.

Naeger objects to setting up a corporation that would be administered by a group of lawmakers and state department directors.

"The board of directors are nothing but bureaucrats and politicians," he said.

The board would set guidelines for the program and make deals with insurance companies to provide the group plans.

But Naeger worries that the state will end up funding the program. Naeger said he tried to amend the bill to bar the state from using any general revenue for the program, but the Democrat leadership wouldn't let him offer the amendment.

Naeger said this week's parliamentary maneuvers should strengthen the GOP's resolve to become the majority party in the Missouri House.

Democrats hold a 10-seat majority over Republicans in the House.