The Majority Floor Leader in the House says the chamber’s Democrats have already had what they say they want, before they will vote for a transportation sales tax increase.
House Minority Leader Jake Hummel (D-St. Louis) told Missourinet that his caucus wants a vote on Medicaid expansion before any of its members would vote on the proposed three-quarters-of-one-cent sales tax increase to support transportation.
Democrat support is expected to be needed in order for the transportation tax proposal to pass.
Representative John Diehl (R-Town and Country) says they’ve already had one, during debate on the budget.
“We allowed the Democrats to offer a Medicaid expansion amendment,” says Diehl. That amendment was offered during debate of the Department of Social Services budget. It was defeated 50-98.
Diehl did not say whether that legislation would be brought to a vote in this final week of the session. The Senate changed the bill to the three-quarters-of-one-cent proposal from the one-cent proposal that the House previously passed. The House has not officially acknowledged the Senate vote.
Of the possibility of the House holding a vote on Medicaid expansion to meet Democrats’ demands, Diehl says he, “can’t see that happening.”