Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) proposed budget is $27.3 billion for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Senate Budget committee chairman Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia) said Nixon’s request to spend $277 million more for Medicaid is not realistic. Schaefer said the Governor wants extravagant welfare increases.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Kurt Schaefer (photo courtesy; Missouri Senate Communications)
“I don’t think that’s going to be taken well in the General Assembly,” said Schaefer. “Not just on policy grounds, but on sheer fiscal spending grounds. It doesn’t appear that we have as much money to spend as the Governor wants to spend on some of those increases.”
Under Nixon’s proposal, the Foundation Formula, which funds K-12 public schools, would increase by $85 million.
“The Governor’s own budget has the K-12 Foundation Formula for $400 million underfunded, which is pretty consistent for the last three or four years,” said Schaefer. “In large part, because general revenue that would go to K-12 schools, is going to that continuous increase in Medicaid.”
A Senate committee hearing will be held Monday to discuss the Governor’s proposed budget.
