Nixon Explains Vetoes, Acknowledges Toughest Cut

"NONE OF THEM ARE ESPECIALLY EASY"

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon signed the new state budget into law today -- but not before slicing $105 million dollars out of it.

One of the smallest dollar vetoes was $3.5 million dollars targeted for dentists who care for Medicaid patients. In the end, dentists still received a reimbursement increase in the 2010 budget. But it still counts as a cut for a Governor who ran his campaign on restoring Medicaid coverage, but has now run into the realities of a fiscal freefall.

*WATCH NIXON COMMENT ON HIS VETOES ABOVE*

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS REPORT HERE

Other Vetoes Include:
$24.7 million Interoperability (emergency radio system)
$16.5 million MOHELA Projects
$12.6 million ethanol funding beyond FY 2011
$12.4 million care management and participant case management
$10 million highway access to old Penitentiary Site
$5 million community college maintenance & repair increase
$3.5 million dental rate increase (leaves ½)
$20.0 million in various projects across all departments, including funding that will not be needed prior to FY 2012.
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ALSO: DENTAL DIRECTOR GIVES NIXON A PASS ON REIMBURSEMENT CUT

"I completely understand the Governor's struggle . . . He's done well with what he has."

*WATCH BELOW*

Rogetta Prueitt, director of the Children's Smile Center in Ozark, says she understands why the full reimbursement rate needed to be cut.

BUT in the KY3 News @ 10 report, Prueitt outlines how important reimbursement rates are in helping improve access. She says there is only 1 private dentist in Christian County who will accept Medicaid patients. The Children's Smile Center currently serves 380 Medicaid children, from Christian & Stone counties.