Audio: “Kids Win Missouri” praises Missouri House’s $76 million Increase for foster and adoptive children

A coalition that’s dedicated to improving the well-being of Missouri children is praising the Missouri House’s bipartisan approval of a 76-million dollar increase for foster and adoptive children. Kids Win Missouri policy director Craig Stevenson says the House budget includes unprecedented support for the kinship and foster families who care for the 14,000 children in […]

Medicaid Missouri

Audio: Missouri’s House Budget Committee Chairman outlines Medicaid-related budget bill

Missouri’s House Budget Committee learned details today (Tuesday) about a budget blueprint from Chairman Cody Smith to use dollars slated for Medicaid expansion for other programs instead. Funding includes 26-million dollars for adult daycare and home-delivered meals. Chairman Smith testifies the funding also includes 88-million dollars for nursing home care.     This involves a […]

Senator Dan Hegeman

Audio: Some state agencies working on VERY antiquated systems, says Senate Budget chairman Dan Hegeman

Some state agencies are working with the oldest computer operating systems- and still using them, mainly because of the costs associated with upgrading and replacing these outdated programs.  That’s according to State Senate Budget Chairman Dan Hegeman.     As Missourians well know- one of those is the Missouri Department of Revenue. Some of the systems […]

Student Loans or graduation cap on money

Audio: Missouri Senate Education Committee Chair wants community colleges to get more core funding

The Missouri Legislature is making its way through the state budget process. Shelbina State Senator Cindy O’Laughlin says she would like Missouri’s community colleges to get an increase in core funding from the state. O’Laughlin is the chair of the Senate Education Committee.     O’Laughlin, of northeast Missouri’s Shelbina, uses Moberly Area Community College […]

Missouri Department of Corrections

Audio: Missouri House signs off on budget to include bigger pay raise for some corrections jobs

The Missouri House has passed a 34-point-one billion-dollar state operating budget that includes a big pay raise for some hard-to-fill Department of Corrections jobs. On top of the requested two-percent salary boost for all state workers, some Corrections food service workers, officers, sergeants, and lieutenants would get anywhere from a nearly six percent to an […]

Immunization needle

Audio: Missouri bill would lower school immunization requirements

Missouri children attending daycares, K-12 public schools, or college might not be required to get vaccinated against certain illnesses – if they have a “conscientious belief” opposing the immunizations. Lebanon State Representative Suzie Pollock is proposing the change for vaccinations against polio, rubella, mumps, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and others. Her bill would also […]