JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri House Republicans have given a resounding "no' to Democratic plans to expand Medicaid.
Two separate House committees rejected the plan Monday. One shot down an attempt to add funding for a Medicaid expansion to the 2014 budget. Another panel defeated legislation that would have authorized the expansion of Medicaid coverage to an estimated 260,000 lower-income adults.
Both committees voted along party lines, with Republicans opposing the Medicaid expansion and Democrats supporting it. More than 30 people representing health care, business and social services groups testified in support of the proposed expansion.
The Medicaid expansion is called for by President Barack Obama's health care law and supported by Gov. Jay Nixon.
House Republicans are working on an alternative that may include a more modest expansion combined with cost-savings measures.