The Missouri State Capitol building in Jefferson City.
Funding for Medicaid expansion in the Missouri state budget was dealt a final blow by the Senate April 28.
That funding had previously failed to gain support in the House. The next step is likely to be decided by the courts.
Gov. Mike Parson initially included $1.9 billion in the budget — the vast majority of it federal funds — to pay for expansion. That would cover the cost of at least 250,000 more eligible Missourians.
Republican opponents like Sen. Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester, argued that Medicaid is an inferior option and not worth funding.
The Post-Dispatch reported that Koenig said, “I’m sorry, if you are a healthy adult, you need to get a job.”
The House Budget Committee rejected Medicaid on a party line vote in March.
