The Missouri legislature has passed a supplemental budget containing raises for state employees, almost $2 billion in federal funding for Missouri schools as well as money to fully fund the state’s Medicaid program for the rest of the fiscal year, including its expansion.
The House on Thursday voted 133-12 to pass the $4.6 billion budget, about 15 hours after the Senate approved the same bill Wednesday night.
The Senate version made several changes to the original House bill, with one of the largest being to the state worker raise plan. Under the House version, the money for raises was reduced, with not all workers qualifying for a $15-an-hour minimum wage.
The Senate restored the funding back to Gov. Mike Parson’s original allotment, but without setting any minimum wage, allowing departments to decide.
Rep. Cody Smith, R-Carthage, who chairs the House Budget Committee said he would work with state agencies on setting wages.
“It is not my intention that the state government should place the state workforce at an unfair competitive advantage over private employers,” Smith said. “And I have communicated that to various agencies throughout this process and will continue to do that as we work with them through the end of this fiscal year.”
The move to restore the raises had the support of Democrats. Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, praised the Senate’s actions before the vote.
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