House Votes to Restore First Steps

A special program for developmentally disabled young children has been revised by the House. First Steps had been eliminated from the budget by Governor Matt Blunt, touching off a wave of protests from the parents who used its services. Blunt then proposed to revise the program to trim costs. The bill backed by Blunt and approved by the House calls for the program to be studied. The proposed revision would require co-pays and insurance payments to lower costs, a bit. The program will still cost the state $13-Million, which will be matched to draw down about that amount from the federal government. Senators now consider the House’s version as they enter the final two days of the session.