Capitol Update 2011
Weekly Update for the MCC Citizens' NetworkApril 4, 2013
In This Issue
1. House Committee Advances Medicaid Reform
2. Committee Vote Showed Bipartisan Support
3. Next Stop - Rules Committee
4. MCC Submits Comments on Latest Contraception/Abortion Drug Regulations
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House Committee Advances Medicaid Reform
 

The House Committee on Government Oversight and Accountability has approved, by a 7 to 2 vote, the Medicaid Reform bill (HCS HB 700), which is sponsored by Representative Jay Barnes, a Republican legislator from Jefferson City. The Missouri Catholic Conference supports this legislation, which includes strong pro-life protections, encourages people to take responsibility for their own healthcare and helps many of Missouri's poorest citizens to pay for affordable health plans.

 

The following committee members voted for HCS HB 700: Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson City); Thomas Flanigan (R-Carthage); Jeffrey Messenger (R-Republic); Gina Mitten (D-St. Louis); Chris Molendorp (R-Belton); Tommie Pierson (D-St. Louis); and, Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff). Expressions of thanks to these committee members would be helpful at this time.

 

The following committee members voted against HCS HB 700: Mark Parkinson (R-St. Charles); and Kevin McManus (D-Kansas City). These committee members should be asked to reconsider their position as they will likely have another opportunity to vote on HCS HB 700, if it reaches the House floor.

Committee Vote Showed Bipartisan Support

 

HCS HB 700 picked up bipartisan support from both Republicans and Democrats, but one Republican and one Democrat opposed the bill. If the legislation reaches the full House for consideration, it will need strong bipartisan support. Success will require legislators to work across party lines. Stay tuned for more.

Next Stop - Rules Committee

 

HCS HB 700 will now be reviewed by the powerful Rules Committee. The Rules Committee must give the bill its OK before it can be considered by the full House of Representatives. The MCC has sent an alert to all network members who have legislators serving on the Rules Committee. Even if you don't have a legislator on the Rules Committee, you may want to contact some of the members; click here to read the Alert and take action.
 MCC Submits Comments to HHS on Latest Contraception/Abortion Drug Regulations
 

The Missouri Catholic Conference submitted comments this week asking the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to further revise the regulations governing their mandate that all health plans  include coverage for sterilization, contraception, and abortion drugs. The latest proposed regulation, issued in February, still does not exempt all Catholic hospitals, schools, universities or charity organizations from the mandate. Some of them have been offered an accommodation, which in many respects is unworkable and fails to respect the religious nature of the work being done by these institutions. For-profit employers aren't offered any accommodation, nor are they exempt from the mandate.

 

The comment period closes on April 8th. The MCC is asking its network members to offer comments through the website of the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment here before the deadline.