Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

The Governor has explained his view of the state of the state. We need more money for things like fully funding education, so our kids are protected in the world. We owe it to them.

We also need to help keep them alive and healthy. We have passed up $4B over the last 2 years to help our kids (and the economy) by expanding Medicaid. We currently insure kids of part time workers. By expanding, we can insure 300,000 additional full time workers and their kids. Don't we want to reward rather than punish low paid workers who work full-time?

If we do not expand this year, we will lose another $2B. NOTE we are going to lose the $600M we currently receive to keep rural hospitals open. Without Medicaid Expansion, hospitals will close and people will die.

Some say it is bad to take federal government money. Currently we rely on them for 1/3 of our state budget - about $8.4B. It is proven we need them and can rely on them.

The question is why the Republican legislature refuses to keep kids alive and help the economy.

Martin Walsh

Glendale, MO