Missouri state budget

This year’s supplemental budget includes money for services for developmentally disabled people and avian flu response, among other programs. The budget also has about $300 million for public education.

Missouri officials doubt the state could stop accepting Medicaid expansion applicants if the federal government provides less money. Republican Sen. Josh Hawley says he'd be "really concerned" about significant Medicaid cuts in a budget bill.

Andrew Bailey was questioned about his lawsuit against Starbucks that claims diversity hiring initiatives have caused higher prices and longer waits. “I’m just curious if white-served coffee tastes a little bit better,” one Ferguson Democrat asked.

Kehoe said one of his priorities for cutting taxes this year is to exempt capital gains — the profits from sale of investments like a business or stocks. But doing that would reduce Missouri's revenue by about $300 million annually.

Only one budget veto issued by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson faced an attempted override. Lawmakers ultimately left Wednesday without overriding anything.

Missouri’s long-term care ombudsman program organizes workers and volunteers to advocate for and educate residents at the state’s hundreds of nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities. But it has fewer than half the recommended staff members.

With more than 400 line items directed at particular districts or organizations, totaling $2.1 billion, lawmakers have continued to pile extras into spending bills as the state enjoys a near-record surplus

The budget approved by Missouri lawmakers for the fiscal year that begins July 1 is $1 billion less than the current year’s appropriation. It might not cover all the costs of a wide-ranging new education law signed by Gov. Mike Parson.

The deadline for the legislature to pass the budget for the upcoming fiscal year is 6 p.m. Friday.

The Missouri Freedom Caucus, a faction of the state GOP, has vowed to debate the budget in detail and attempt to cut hundreds of millions in spending. That could push final votes on spending past the constitutional deadline of May 10.

Included in the budget is a 3.2% pay increase for state workers, money to fully fund school transportation and more funding for colleges. However, the House version of the budget is about $2 billion less than Gov. Mike Parson requested.

The annual state budget and a tax that funds the bulk of Missouri’s Medicaid program are two things that must pass this session. And before the break, senators passed a major education bill that included priorities for both Republicans and Democrats.