Central and Eastern Kentucky
(2009-04-17)
COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
A group of religious leaders from across Missouri wants to see money for children's health insurance included in the 2010 state budget. However, this week lawmakers rejected a plan that would have appropriated seven-point-seven million dollars for the program. The state's overall budget is twenty-three-point-two billion dollars. Religious leaders met yesterday at the Capitol to discuss the issue with lawmakers and raise awareness about children's health insurance needs. Retired minister of the Metropolitan Missouri Baptist Church in Kansas City, Wallace Hartsfield senior, chaired the event that gave a voice to what Hartsfield calls the groans of the people. That power comes from there, not really from the top. And the top needs to hear these groans that's going on in our state.
According to the 2009 Health Care State Rankings by CQ Press, Missouri ranks 36th in the nation. Opponents of the plan say health care should remain privatized. Missouri lawmakers will finish state budget appropriations for 2010 by May seventh.
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