Gov. Jay Nixon rips House leadership over autism bill — again
JEFFERSON CITY — Make no mistake: There will be a battle over an autism insurance mandate bill again next legislative session.
Gov. Jay Nixon made that clear this morning (see live Twitter feed here) at an otherwise uneventful bill signing ceremony in the governor’s office in the state Capitol.
“Next year I’d like to invite everybody back when I sign an autism insurance mandate bill,” Nixon said while signing HB525 and SB 157 along with sponsors Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, and Rep. Jeff Grisamore, R-Lee’s Summit.
The bills that passed codify into law existing support for parents with autism through five regional centers. But what lawmakers really wanted was a bill to mandate insurance coverage for kids with autism. The bill was blocked by House Speaker Ron Richard, and Nixon made it clear he’ll use the “full force and power” of the governor’s office (and his “stunning personality”) to make sure it doesn’t happen again next session.
“The bill should have had a vote on the floor of the House and it didn’t,” Nixon said. “The people deserve to see the green and reds,” he continued, referring to the color of lights on the representatives voting buttons, green for yes, red for no. There are no excuses for the House of Representatives to not take a public vote. … They don’t have any arguments against it. The only argument is that the insurance industry didn’t want it.”
When benefits are mandated, insurance premiums go up. That is why we have uninsured people. Individuals and employers cannot afford to pay premiums. I am all for kids getting help but we have to look at the big picture and what it does to the cost. For example, Illinois passed a mandate that insurance companies HAVE to cover infertility up to $10,000. That is ludicrous! I should not have to pay for someone that cannot have children but I am forced to do it. There is no a perfect solution and I am sure I would be singing a different tune if I or my family had a medical issue not covered by insurance. However, I do not want the federal government getting in the game which Nixon and Obama are trying to do. Look at Medicare, it is in shambles and that is government sponsored health insurance or universal health care.
cjstl - If the supply of money outweighs the demands, then ask for more. Get involved in fundraising. But don’t mandate that everyone pay for it. I understand the costs are high, but that doesn’t entitle you to rob a bank to get the money to help your child, does it?
I wonder if the bill has any provisions for adults with autism? A good friend of ours is at her wits end with her 25 year old autistic daughter. No one is willing to help since the girl is over 21 and the state she lives in doesn’t recognize autism as a mental health issue.
The point that all of you are missing is that without insurance coverage, without treatment, these kids have a much larger drain on society and taxpayers without insurance coverage and thus less treatment then the cost of possible increase in insurance premiums with coverage.
Instead of possible increased health premiums, you will have increase property taxes to pay for education of these children, increased state taxes to pay for medicaid for these children, increased drain on social security as they become adults and claim disability benefits, increased crime and costs of housing those that commit crimes, increased substance abuse from thsoe trying to deal with their disability this way.. etc…
Its all about choices
I am on the fence but what I can say is that I think Jenny McCartney is FULL OF IT if she thinks that she cured her son. She is not a doctor or anything close to it. If she truly “CURED” him then why aren’t more parents with autistic children following her? I think that there needs to be a bill passed for testing to see what is causing this also.
Its odd that the increase in children with things as small as allergies and the increase in children with things as large as autism seems to coincide with the increase in the amount of stimulants given to our crops and our meat and dairy producing animals…
Ron Richard is good at his job…screwing over Missourians who need legitimate help.
Sid and Kaos are complete idiots who have not a clue about autism or how kids are affected. My cousin has a son who is almost 10 who was diagnosed at about age 4 after he pulled a hunk of his hair out!!! These kids are more than just peculiar and need services that most insurances wont pay for. He has treatments that he has been getting at about $500 a month that have completely turned this child around. He used to lay on the floor and play with his toys and completely ignore the world around him while other kids ran through the house and jumped over him!. He now not only acknowledges people, he will sit and talk to you! He interacts with others and is in regular school. His “meltdowns” are much less often and less severe. His parents can afford it (thank god) but most cant. I would rather use my tax dollars helping kids like him than wasting it on those stupid mailings or other “pet projects” of useless politicians.
Governor Nixon should be commend for his compassion. But it is only a band aid. We would be better off if he instead used his soap box to campaign for a National health care solution. If we had 50 governors, and 50 houses passing resolutions urging congress to act, maybe they would get the message.
1) Isn’t it curious that Mr. Nixon has done for special education advocacy than Ms Palin. That’s what governors who don’t quit are supposed to do.
2) How would these anti-government protect-the-insurance-companies Mo. republicans vote if their new hero, Ms Palin, was supporting it?