Missouri Legislature Approves $6.2 Billion Supplemental Budget to Battle Coronavirus
An unprecedented bipartisan $6.2 billion dollar supplemental budget to battle the coronavirus outbreak is heading to Governor Mike Parson’s desk. The House approved the bill on a 147-4 vote.
Versailles GOP State Representative David Wood says the supplemental budget includes additional funding for suicide prevention and mental health.
“When you put people in a stressful situation, and forcing them to stay home without a paycheck and wondering how they’re going to make it to the next month, that leads to some very serious consequences.”
More than 100,000 Missourians have filed for unemployment this past week.
The House Budget Committee’s top Democrat, Columbia State Representative Kip Kendrick, says local health departments across Missouri are critical to containing COVID-19.
“We would ask that the Executive Branch remember the local health departments who are really underfunded at the state level, across the board.”
The bill also includes $90 million dollars for nursing homes to help with infection control. The state Department of Health and Senior Services says Missouri has 3,327 cases and 58 deaths.
While the House’s vote was bipartisan, debate became heated when Minority Leader Crystal Quade said Republicans reacted with scorn, when House Democrats tried to increase funding for COVID-19 three weeks ago.
“When we warned that the $33 million in pandemic spending authority then included in the supplemental appropriations bill was woefully insufficient, folks on the other side accused us of political exploitation and shameful behavior.”
But House Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo of Arnold fired back, accusing Democrats of playing politics.
“There is no action we could have taken three weeks ago that would have kept us from being here today. The truth is, the only people playing politics with this very serious issue are the ones on the other side of the aisle, Mr. Speaker.”
Wednesday’s House vote was historic, with members wearing masks and going into the chamber to vote, four at a time.