House Dems propose improvements to historic budget

Quade: We must ‘invest in Missouri families, workers and institutions’

Minority Leader Crystal Quade (MHDC)

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Democrats on the House Budget Committee Monday urged wise and decisive investment to bolster state services that strengthen Missouri families during a historic budget cycle for FY 2023.

“We have the opportunity and the ability to invest in Missouri families, workers and institutions that have long gone neglected under Republican leadership,” said Minority Floor Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield. “While this monumental $47 billion budget commits to numerous necessary changes, our members on the Budget Committee believe we can take several steps to improve upon the governor’s recommendations while ensuring our state utilizes this vast sum responsibly.

“Bottom line: this money has to reach the Missourians who need it most.”

Quade said the caucus was pleased overall with the direction of the governor’s budget recommendations, including the decisions to fully fund Medicaid expansion, bolster starting pay for teachers across the state, devote substantial resources to public transportation and increase funds for those who provide services to Missourians with developmental disabilities and behavioral health concerns.

However, Democrats believe the governor could go further in some key areas. Top priorities include expanding mental health services offered for workers in education and healthcare, significantly increasing funding to assist those suffering from substance abuse, increasing funds for support staff who assist those living with behavioral and mental health disorders and providing greater funding for public transit to attract more businesses to the state, to name just a few examples.

In other areas, the governor’s budget was deficient. State Rep. Peter Merideth, the ranking minority member on the Budget Committee, said outside funding sources, including roughly $2.7 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act for FY 2023, could free up funds for line items not included in Parson’s recommendations.

“COVID-19 emphasized the difficulty of living in places without adequate access to mental health support for kids, lack of affordable housing and the lack of access to nutritious food, but those problems existed long before COVID,” said Merideth, D-St. Louis. “Thanks to a large influx of federal dollars, we have a once in a generation opportunity to alleviate some of these disparities, especially for Missourians living in urban and rural areas.”