Tagged: veterans homes

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has signed legislation redirecting casino fees to nursing homes for military veterans.

The legislation signed into law Wednesday provides a dedicated funding stream for the state's seven nursing homes that serve about 1,300 veterans.

Casinos already pay a per-person fee to the state. Most of that money has gone to early childhood programs. But the new law redirects the bulk of those fees to veterans homes.

A final vote awaits on a bill that would include solidifying funding for veteran's homes. Up to $30 million would be shifted within a casino entrance fee fund from early childhood education and put forward to veterans homes. While this awaits a vote in the Senate, one Missouri veteran is on a hunger strike.

House and Senate budget negotiators remain at an impasse on what’s become the main barrier to reaching an agreement: finding a way to fund veterans’ homes.

The House this week passed legislation that would fund veterans homes with gaming revenues currently designated for early childhood programs, and replace it with money from a tobacco settlement.  The Senate has so far refused to take up the measure.  House Budget Chair Ryan Silvey accuses Senate President Pro-tem Rob Mayer of playing games:

With three weeks left in the legislative session, Governor Jay Nixon is urging lawmakers to fund