The House has softened the proposed blow to federal aid in state healthcare. President Bush had wanted to slash the amount states could tax health-care providers next year from 6 percent to 3. But Jessica Robinson says Missouri officials pushed state representatives to come up with a less threatening compromise. With 32 other states lobbying against the cuts, that push has been a success in the House. The House did approve a cut, but just one half of one percent. Robinson says the Department of Social Services is looking into how the new 5.5 percent figure will affect the state. The state estimates the original restriction of just 3 percent would have meant a 1.3 billion dollar loss for state health care. Lawmakers are now working to get the new 5.5 percent compromise approved by the Senate.