Missouri lawmakers remain at odds over a plan to restore budget cuts affecting healthcare for more than 8,000 elderly and disabled residents.
Friday marked an informal deadline to have a deal in place, but Republican negotiators have not found enough common ground to bring all lawmakers back to the Capitol for a special session on the matter.
The sticking point is a plan to generate the needed cash by altering a tax break for elderly renters. Under one scenario, the tax break would only go to people earning above a certain income level.
A review of the concept last week found a receptive audience among Republicans who control the Senate, said Sen. Bill Eigel, a Weldon Spring Republican. “I didn’t detect anyone being opposed to going that route,” Eigel said.
A second proposal would put a cap on the amount of the credit. For example, the credit for homeowners could be set at $800, while the credit for renters could be capped at $400.
“There have been several different scenarios of numbers,” said Rep. Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat who has been involved in the talks.
But, Quade and others say there have been no significant updates on the progress of negotiations since late last month. And, Democrats remain opposed to changing the circuit breaker.
“It’s just been crickets this past week,” Quade said.
In May, hoping to avoid the reductions sought by Greitens during a tight budget year, lawmakers gave the governor the ability to sweep $35 million out of special state funds. But Greitens vetoed the measure, calling it a one-time budgeting gimmick.
The cuts that began going into effect July 1 reduced personal care services, such as cooking and bathing assistance, for an estimated 8,300 people. They also reduced funding to nursing homes by 3 percent.
Despite outcry over the cuts, lawmakers were unable to find the votes to override his move during their September veto session.
In a joint statement issued on Sept. 13, House Speaker Todd Richardson and Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard called for negotiators to hammer out a solution over the following three weeks.
Republican Sen. Mike Cunningham of Rogersville, who is the lead negotiator in the Senate and represents Texas County, said he plans to meet with Greitens this week to see if the governor will call the Legislature back for a special session. A date for that meeting has not been set, he said.
Rep. David Wood, R-Versailles, said the clock is ticking on the Legislature to find a resolution before members need to turn their attention to the next fiscal year budget. “Our time frame is very short,” said Wood, who also has been involved in the talks.
Despite the delay, some lawmakers remain hopeful an agreement can be reached.
“We don’t feel like we just can’t do nothing,” Eigel said.
Added Wood, “I think there is a consensus among all of us that something needs to be done.”