Update: Vote to cut children’s health program fails vote…

By a slim 50-48 margin (with two members not voting), the U.S. Senate blocked a proposal by the Trump Administration to cut $15.4 billion out of the $1.3 trillion federal spending bill Congress passed in February. The administration request called for about half – $7 billion – of the requested cut from funds earmarked for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP.

The president’s proposal used a rare policy tool called “rescission”, which calls for funds earmarked for a purpose to not be spent by the government. Presidents rarely submit rescission proposals – the last one to do so was Bill Clinton.

Of the $7 billion in cuts to CHIP appropriations, approximately $2 billion had been set aside for the Child Enrollment Contingency Fund, which protects children in cases when their state of residence runs out of money for CHIP coverage.

The vote in the Senate fell mostly along party lines, with Republicans mostly in support and Democrats opposed. There were, however, two Republican defections: Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Richard Burr of North Carolina.

Opinion: What Will Change in Governor Mean for Missouri…

Less than twenty-four hours after Governor Eric Greitens announced his resignation, effective June 1, many Missourians are asking, “What now and what does this mean?”  As child and family advocates coming off of what has clearly been one of the better legislative years for our most vulnerable children, we have reflected on this as well.   Our conclusion:  the work will move forward and we are in good shape.

During the Governor’s tenure, the First Lady, Dr. Sheena Greitens, worked tirelessly on behalf of Missouri’s children in foster care, and put a spotlight on both their pain and our opportunity and obligation to do better by them.  We are grateful to her.  We take heart, however, in how our legislators and community-based partners also led in this effort and gave voice to the work of improving the lives of our most vulnerable children.   Capitalizing on this singleness of purpose and resulting momentum, Missouri made important strides to advance child safety, health and education, and support opportunity for normalcy and permanent families.   Helping our most at-risk children brings Missourians together like few other issues can, and a change in administrations will not change this fact.

Missouri is also fortunate that Lt. Governor Mike Parson, who will be sworn in as Governor June 1, shares this strong commitment to Missouri children and families.  We are confident that the partnerships and cooperation that made 2018 successful will continue, and look forward to supporting the incoming administration in any way we can to protect and serve our most vulnerable.

Opinion: Children’s health program needs support, not cuts

Not more than six months ago, the federal government for the first time in decades failed to re-authorize the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides affordable health coverage for about 9 million children in the United States. Child advocates breathed a sigh of relief a few months ago when Congress finally reauthorized the program.

Now, CHIP is again the subject of efforts to curb federal spending. This week, President Trump announced an effort to cut $15.4 billion out of the $1.3 trillion spending bill Congress passed in March, using a process called “rescission”.

Budget rescission – used by Congress itself but rarely by presidents (Clinton was the last to do so) – is when money that has been appropriated but not spent is withdrawn. Read more “Opinion: Children’s health program needs support, not cuts” →

Tim Decker, Missouri Children’s Division Director, to retire

Tim Decker, director of the Missouri Children’s Division, will be retiring at the beginning of July, after serving as director for over four years.  Prior to leading the Children’s Division, he was director of Missouri’s Division of Youth Services for seven years.  He plans to “continue the movement” after he leaves, but adds he will first “spend some much needed time with my beautiful wife Laurie and Christopher, Jessica, Riley, and Cody (son, daughter-in-law, and our grandsons).”

Those of us at the Missouri Coalition of Children’s Agencies extend our deep appreciation for his commitment to children, families and communities, and for his relentless and courageous advocacy for Missouri’s most vulnerable.  We wish him well and look forward to working with him as he “continues the movement.”