St. Louis County Democrat- Senate decisions on Medicaid expansion, tax credits troublesome

(From Sen. Jill Schlupp, D-St. Louis County)

As a member of the minority party in the MO legislature for the entire 13 years in which I have served, it should not be a surprise to me when divisive or partisan legislation I do not support passes. Still, it weighs heavily on me as I work to find a reasonable compromise or to make the case for a different perspective to be considered.

It matters who is sent to Jefferson City to serve Missourians. It also matters who votes.

Two decisions made this past week were among those that are very troublesome.

 

One is with regard to the funding of Medicaid expansion. The expansion of Medicaid was approved by Missourians this past August to provide healthcare access to Missouri's working poor. 

This week, the MO Senate and House gave final approval to the state budget: roughly $38 billion in spending authority. 

Because of the support at the federal level through programs such as the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan, our state has access to billions more than we are spending through the budget. So, the expansion of healthcare access through Medicaid insurance for low-income families and individuals seemed like an obvious funding priority. Its passage was defeated, largely along party lines in the legislature.

Additionally, through a process that utilizes tax credits to avoid a conflict with our Constitution, students will now be able to access vouchers, through the "Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program," to subsidize tuition at non-public schools for K-12 education. 

The "donors" of dollars receive a 100% tax credit, which means they have no skin in the game but will be diverting our general revenue which could otherwise go to fund public education or a plethora of other state needs. 

The program starts with up to $50 million per year in diverted funds. And while the claim is that low-income students who qualify for free or reduced cost school lunches will be atop the list of students who can access these funds, the roughly $6,300 per year they will receive will not be near enough to cover the cost of private schools. Lack of transportation will also be a burden for low-income families.

Families who home school their children will have the ability to receive thousands of dollars per child. Religious and private schools will receive these subsidies with little to no state oversight. 

The legislation, as written and passed, is not intended to serve the underserved. 

 Senate Democrats were joined by a few Republicans in voting against this bill. It passed through the Senate with two more votes than needed.