Capitol Calling

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State Rep. Chris Kelly said today that there may be enough political support to extend funding for the Caring for Missourians program next year.

That seems to take the edge off of House Budget Chairman Allen Icet’s declaration that funding for the program was meant as a one-time expenditure and that higher education institutions shouldn’t expect additional money. Both Icet, R-Wildwood, and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder arranged a conference call yesterday raising alarm about the implementation of the program.

“The votes were there and I think that the votes will be there next year too,” Kelly said. “I like Allen and I don’t like to disagree with him. But you know, I believe there’s widespread support from both sides of the aisle for that program. And I believe it will get funded again next year.”

Under the current budget structure, colleges and universities are set to get roughly $40 million worth of federal stimulus money for one-time priorities. But there is an inference that the money could go toward the Caring for Missourians program, an initiative meant to pump out more health care professionals from colleges and universities.

I have asked both Kelly and Rep. Steve Hobbs, R-Mexico, whether the program could garner consistent funding, especially when health care-related degrees require a multi-year commitment.

“I think we see said ‘well, we’ll take each year one at a time,’” Kelly said. “And we’ll take Caring for Missourians next year along with everything else.”

“The nature of the Democratic compromise proposal is that we got the money and he got to characterize the money,” Kelly added. “And he characterized it as money for anything that [the universities] wanted and that it would be one-time. We don’t know the answer to that question yet. So I think it’s too early to forecast that it won’t be there next year. The only reason it was in this year was because the votes are there.”

Gov. Jay Nixon has already embarked on a tour of the state promoting the program, stating in a press release that Caring for Missourians “will help us train the next generation of medical professionals to meet the health care needs of tomorrow, while also helping turn our economy around today.”

Kinder, Icet sound alarm bells about Caring for Missourians

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and House Budget Chairman Allen Icet said in a conference call today that funding for a program meant to pump out health care professionals out of colleges and universities will dry up during the next budgetary year.

The program – known as Caring for Missourians or Preparing to Care – was put forward last year by then-interim University of Missouri System president Gordon Lamb. The idea was to create space at various higher education institutions for students seeking degrees related to health care. Those individuals could then go out into the state, which would fulfill a need for health care professionals.

Roughly $40 million worth of federal stimulus money was allocated to the state's higher education institutions in a pending budget bill. While it the cash isn't explicitly directed to the program, that's widely seen as the money's intent.

But Icet said in the conference call that universities will not be receiving additional money next year. That brings up a notable question: if a program requiring a multi-year commitment was meant as a “one time expenditure,” why did the initiative receive funding at all?

“As everyone on the line knows, [the budget process] is an art of compromise,” Icet said. “And there are members who wanted some funding for this. And I was very up front with them. If I do this, you have to understand this is one-time only. Maybe they need some additional funding to purchase equipment or whatever the case may be to get the program off the ground. And as I spoke with some colleagues, as well as some universities, if this program is a priority they may want to cut another program and use funding from that program to support and supplant for Preparing to Care.”

“I have no idea how they’re going to get there,” Icet added. “But again, if they want to use the funding as I said for one-time purchases, I don’t have a problem with it. It was really more of a point of compromise in the process.”

It's worth noting that Icet has expressed concerns about the program before. He seemed to imply that program was "dead on arrival" in January. He also openly opposed funding the program last year.

But he also stated in March that the funding for this program would only be for one year. Rep. Steve Hobbs, R-Mexico, said the money would be used to jump start the initiative. Higher education institutions, he said, would come up with avenues to sustain the program later.

Kinder stopped short of calling for Nixon to veto the funding. But he said he wanted to "have an honest discussion with all the cards on the table."

"I'm heightening discussion of this issue so we can put the question to the governor, put the question to officials at the universities and see what they say," Kinder said.

I'm not a gambling man, but I would bet that it's highly unlikely that Gov. Jay Nixon will veto the money.

Late last month, the governor went on a statewide tour to tout the start of the program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Missouri State University. He also said in a statement that the program "will help us train the next generation of medical professionals to meet the health care needs of tomorrow, while also helping our economy turn around today."

Kinder throws support behind court plan changes

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder's office sent out a press release today urging the Missouri Senate to adopt a constitutional amendment altering the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan.

"Every Missourian should be concerned about the courts since they impact our lives, directly or indirectly, on a daily basis.  This proposal would allow Missourians to vote on how they want their courts to operate.  It is my belief an issue such as this should be decided by the people, not politicians.  Through this process, Missourians would have more transparency in the judicial selection through a citizen’s commission," Kinder said in a statement. "I am hopeful that the legislature will pass this important bill in the remaining days of this legislative session."

Kinder's endorsement of HJR10 is probably symbolic. It is highly unlikely supporters will be able to break a seemingly intractable filibuster from senators opposed to changing the judicial selection plan. It does, however, showcase a point of difference between the Republican statewide officials and Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon. Nixon is a strong supporter of the plan.

Of course, Nixon's opposition to HJR10 is also symbolic. If the legislature passed the measure this year, it would go to voters. The governor cannot veto proposed constitutional amendments emanating from the legislature.

Kinder opines on historic tax credit fight

At his press conference to condemn the MIAC report, I asked Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder whether he would be in favor of capping the Historic Preservation Tax Credit.

Kinder, the sole Republican statewide official, said he would be open to sizable cap on the program. He is not, however, in favor of a $50 to $75 million cap:

The issue essentially keeping an economic development bill championed by Gov. Jay Nixon from passing the Missouri Senate. Proponents of a cap say the package won't pass without changes to the program, while opponents say they will vigorously oppose alterations.