^[1]

Bringer

JEFFERSON CITY — Democrats tried to facilitate Gov. Jay Nixon’s health care proposal to raise taxes on hospitals for health care ^[2] in the House today.

Rep. Rachel Bringer, D-Palmyra, sponsored an unsuccessful amendment on a bill from Budget Chair Allen Icet, ^[3] R-Wildwood.

Icet said couldn’t support the amendment because he hadn’t heard from hospital providers, who Bringer said were on board.

The chamber had a tense — but brief — moment when a Hospital Association lobbyist showed up to talk to Icet, who didn’t leave the floor.

The amendment specified that the Legislature try to get matching federal funds from Medicaid money. It also allowed providers to agree to pay a higher rate to get federal funds.

Supporters said this would allow Missouri to get its share of federal dollars. Opponents said it would send Missourians the message that the state doesn’t respect their federal tax dollars.

The amendment failed 69-84, with the votes almost completely following party lines.