By Jeremy LaFaver, Partnership for Children

Last week the Missouri Senate appropriations committee took a first glance at the budget bills passed by the House, going through each line and making preliminary decisions on several items. One of the most significant decisions appears to be the inclusion of budget stabilization funding from the federal government, effectively bringing in nearly a billion dollars aimed at fueling Missouri’s economy while funding safety net services needed by thousands of Missouri families who are struggling in the current economic recession.

This first look at the budget in the Senate is very promising. Highlights of the first pass through include funding the Governor’s proposal for increasing Medicaid eligibility up to 50% FPL and restoring more than $1 million for the state Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The Senate hesitated on including the Governor’s proposal for insuring more than 27,000 children through CHIP, but agreed to discuss it further in the coming weeks.

Over the course of the next two weeks, the Senate appropriations committee will be discussing whether to restore many of the cuts made in the House, hopefully coming to agreement in mid April. Right now, it looks like the Senate may come to the rescue for Missouri’s citizens, setting up a potentially contentious fight in conference committee. Advocates need to continue communicating with our lawmakers, helping them understand the importance of funding critical services for our most vulnerable citizens. While there may appear to be a sunny horizon, the budget is still being debated and we can’t afford to celebrate too early.

Jeremy LaFaver is the Policy and Outreach Coordinator for Health Care and Protection Services at the Partnership for Children. Partnership for Children is Kansas City’s leading children’s advocacy organization whose mission is to focus the energy of our community and our government on enhancing life for children and youth through research, education, and advocacy.