JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri House renewed a key tax on hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers Wednesday, sending the more than $4 billion package to Gov. Mike Parson’s desk.
Approval of the Federal Reimbursement Allowance on a 136-16 vote marks one of the last steps in the Legislature’s budget-making process before lawmakers hit Friday’s 6 p.m. session deadline.
“This has become an integral piece of our Medicaid budget,” said House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage. “Clearly, it is very critical to our budget.”
The vote in the House came as their colleagues in the Senate were tied up in knots over a Republican proposal that would make it harder for citizens to amend the state constitution. Democrats were holding the floor in a filibuster that began Monday afternoon.
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With the Senate stuck in a filibuster, passage of other legislation has been virtually frozen.
The House still could approve a measure affecting the cost of certain cancer drugs and the Senate, if it can return to normal, could try to approve a large anti-crime bill that includes provisions like one banning celebratory gunfire.
Also sitting in the wings are changes to Ƶ’ 1% earnings tax affecting remote workers and a fix to a senior property tax break.
A push by pharmaceutical giant Bayer to stop thousands of lawsuits alleging its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer is likely to wither in the Senate.
Passage of the hospital tax had been in question last week when five members of the Senate’s Freedom Caucus staged a filibuster that blocked it from moving forward.
The splinter group of Republicans, who pattern themselves after Congress’ MAGA-aligned Freedom Caucus, held the floor for more than 40 hours.
The hard-right group eventually dropped their demands and the measure was approved.
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, R-Springfield, called the tax “essential” and bemoaned that it had become a “political football” in the Senate.
“This shouldn’t be used as a hostage in a terrorist situation,” said Quade, who is running for governor.
The tax, which was first implemented in 1992, is set to expire Sept. 30. The renewal extends the tax until 2029. It funds about one-third of the state’s Medicaid health insurance program for low-income Missourians.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, said a failure to renew the plan would result in significant budget cuts, reduced health care services and increased cost for patients.
Rep. Tony Lovasco, a St. Charles County Republican, voted “no” because he believes Missouri should wean itself from any reliance on the federal government.
“I just absolutely hate we are in this position,” Lovasco said.
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