Missouri State Senator Jill Carter discusses DSS, state budget and clarification to Amendment 3

On Tuesday’s KZRG Morning News Watch, Missouri State Senator Jill Carter joined Ted and Steve.

At least 10 kids under the care of the Missouri Department of Social Services, the DSS, have died while in the system.  

Missouri State Senator Jill Carter tells Newstalk KZRG what actions she is taking. 

“We have gone back and asked for all of the reports.  We got some of those reports on the 10 (that have died and) were being told that there are more children that have died in the system. There are some that are missing. I think about 1,200?”

Carter added:  “And so as we kind of unpackage, these issues, it’s really important to me to be able to get to the bottom of where the breakdowns and communication are and then to be able to address them, it is absolutely grossly negligent, what has happened.”

The Missouri state budget is now in the state senate.  

With probable federal budget cuts, State Senator Jill Carter is concerned about

“In regard to medicaid and snap benefits, I think you’re going to see a huge hit potentially, and again, we’ve been terrible about having long-term strategic plans for how to help people. But yet not create a system where people are dependent on that”

Why is the Missouri legislature trying to bring a clarification to Amendment 3 passed by voters last November?

Jill Carter tells Newstalk KZRG:

“And so I think it is appropriate and right for the house to try to pass and clarify language and take it back to the vote of the people. I mean, it is a little frustrating saying you’re overturning the will of the people. No, someone is either going to be clarified by the people, or it’s going to be clarified by judges, and I would much rather have been clarified by our people, and the people in our state than 1 or 2 judges.”