In Governor Jay Nixon's 2013 State of the State Address this week he promoted Medicaid expansion, announced the reduction of another 190 state jobs, and called for the issuance of state bonds. He also announced his budget called for an additional $150 million for educational funding, with a special emphasis on early childhood education.

"But instead of funding schools based merely on what they've received in the past, we'll tie new funding to specific performance goals - like increased student retention, higher graduation rates and improved learning," Nixon said. "We will achieve higher academic goals - with greater accountability."

Nixon noted that in the last four years the state - on average - has had steady gains in math and reading scores. The governor also called for the legislature to extend the school year by six days.

With the announcement of the reduction of 190 state jobs Nixon said the state would have the smallest state workforce in 19 years. "From the time I became Governor to the end of Fiscal Year 2014, we will have reduced the size of state government by 4,500 positions, and cut $1.8 billion in state spending," he said.

He also called for the issuance of state bonds. Proceeds from bonds would allow the construction of a new Fulton State Hospital and would also support upgrades at state parks, as well as funding libraries, computer and science labs and wire classrooms with the latest technology.

"In addition, a targeted bond issuance will provide funds for cutting-edge university research facilities in areas critical to our competitiveness, such as engineering, math, and science," the governor said.

The governor's proposed budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2013, is $25.7 billion. This includes both federal and state funds.

Calling it the "right thing to do," Governor Nixon made a strong pitch for expanding Medicaid to more than 300,000 Missourians in his State of the State Address this week. His plea was falling on deaf ears with many Republicans who have vocally opposed such a move.

Citing popular arguments that other states will get the federal money if Missouri rejects the expansion, Governor Nixon reminded lawmakers that several states, such as Arizona, Nevada, and North Dakota, with Republican governors have voiced support for Medicaid expansion. Nixon also pointed out that members of the business community, including the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, have endorsed the expansion.

According to the federal health care law Missouri could get as much as $1 billion federal dollars during the fiscal year 2014 if it expanded Medicaid to 138% of the poverty level to certain eligible groups of the population.  

The federal government would pay all the costs of expanding Medicaid for the first three fiscal years. Then the states would begin to pay part of the costs until their permanent share would be 10% of the program by 2020.

One of the fears cited by Republican leaders is that the federal government would not honor its pledge and shift more costs to the state over time. Governor Nixon tried to address this concern in his speech by supporting an automatic rollback of the Medicaid program if the federal government didn't live up to its agreement.

Even this didn't seem to satisfy Republican leaders. Speaking after the Governor's talk, House Speaker Tim Jones (R-Eureka) told reporters that he feared that it would not be possible to rollback once Missouri expanded the Medicaid program. Senate Majority Floor Leader, Ron Richard (R-Joplin), indicated that he felt the federal government should show more flexibility for Medicaid expansion.

With lines drawn, the battle over Medicaid expansion will be one of the top issues of the legislative session.

This week the House Election Committee listened to more than two hours of testimony over HB 48 and a proposed constitutional change to identification required to vote in the state.

Click here to read House Bill 48.
Click here to read House Joint Resolution (HJR) 5.

The bill states that to vote in Missouri a person must have a valid drivers license, non-drivers license, any identification issued by the Missouri National Guard, Veteran's Affairs, or the Armed Forces. If the resident is eligible to vote but does not have an acceptable form of  identification the state would be required to issue one at no cost.

Those born before 1941, those with disabilities or who are handicapped and those with religious exemptions, would not have to adhere to the new statue. Those voters would be able to cast a provisional ballot at their polling place, where the signatures can be verified. Those with no identification and who are not exempt could still cast a provisional ballot and then return to the county clerk's office within three days with proper identification to have their vote counted.

Representative Tony Dugger (R-Hartville) sponsored both HB 48 and  HJR 5 and says he filed the measures out of concern for possible voter fraud.

A former county clerk, Dugger said he knows the possibility for fraud
exists. "In the 14 years that I was county clerk, every time that you would mail these voter ID cards out, I would get someone who would come into my office and bring me some cards and say, 'These got delivered to my mailbox. I have no idea who they are'," he says. "They don't know who they are but their cards ended up in their mailbox, and it happens in every election. There's just that chance out there that somebody could take that card, and that's a form of ID that could currently be used ... and vote with it."

The bill allows anyone who is not able to produce proper identification to still place a provisional ballot at the polling place. However, opponents of the bill said that is not good enough.

"We all know those provisional ballots do not get counted," said Stacey Newman (D-Richmond Heights).

Secretary of State spokesman John Scott said in the 2012 election only 25 percent of provisional ballots were counted.

Bill opponents said the legislation would disenfranchise as many as 250,000 Missouri voters.

No one testified in favor of the two proposals. The committee has not voted on any of the Voter ID measures as yet. 

A lot of people don't know who represents them in Congress or in the Missouri General Assembly. If want to identify your state senator, state representative or U.S. Congressperson, click here.

Want to know what bills the MCC has taken a position on? Visit our website at www.mocatholic.org  and click on Bill Tracker at the top of the home page.

As the 2013 session of the Missouri General Assembly progresses, the MCC will consider and take positions on additional legislation so you may want to check back occasionally at the MCC Bill Tracker.