Republican house members are calling the first half of Missouri’s 2015 legislative session a success as they leave the Capitol for their annual spring break. House Speaker John Diehl praised the House for passing the state budget three weeks earlier than usual, and listed the passage of right-to-work, a student transfer fix, medical malpractice, and photo voter ID as the house’s main accomplishments. Jake Hummel, the top Democrat in the House, however slammed GOP leaders for not expanding Medicaid.
“Missouri will continue to let rural hospitals close, two have shut down already: the Osage Hospital in Osceola and Missouri Rehabilitation Center in Mount Vernon, and many others are on the brink of closing right now," Hummel said. "By not expanding Medicaid, 300-thousand Missourians will continue to needlessly go without health care access.”
Hummel also criticized House Republicans for not sending any Ferguson-related bills to the floor during the first half of session. Speaker Diehl says they’ll debate legislation to reform municipal courts and traffic fines after they return from spring break.
