The Missouri Budget Project Articles

Proposition A: How Missourians Are Harmed by Repeal of City Earnings Taxes

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:54:55 GMT

In November Missourians will vote on Proposition A. If passed, the Proposition would undermine local control and decision making in every Missouri community. Proposition A would place vital local services and infrastructure perpetually at risk of severe cuts. And, the measure could likely result in St. Louis tripling its sales tax rate, Kansas City doubling its sales tax rate, or property tax increases of 400 percent. Find out more about this measure here.

Missouri Hits Bottom: It's Time for Cigarette Tax Reform

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:12:32 GMT

Missouri recently won the race to the bottom, as South Carolina raised its cigarette taxes. At 17 cents per pack, Missouri's tobacco taxes not only lag far below the national average, but also far below the cigarette taxes of its neighbors. Click here to read more about how Missouri compare to other states, the high costs of smoking to the Missouri, and why raising tobacco taxes are a sensible part of balanced solutions to funding education, health care and other services that are the priorities of Missourians.

Risks of Managed Care for People with Disabilities and Seniors

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:15:16 GMT

The Disability Coalition on Healthcare Reform and the Federation of Missouri Advocates for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services commissioned a report on the risks of Medicaid Managed Care for people with a disability and seniors. Click here to read the full report, authored by Joel Ferber.

A Question to Insurance Companies: How Much Is Too Much?

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:13:09 GMT

Several recent studies take a look at the surplus funds of insurance companies - both for profit and non-profit. Surpluses are generated when collected premiums exceed the claims paid. How much of a surplus is needed to assure solvency? This could be a key question in reforming the private insurance market. To read more, click here.

Following a Decade of Deficits: Missouri's Revenue Crisis Continues

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:14:05 GMT

Despite significant reductions to Missouri's general revenue budget over the last two years, Missouri's funding crisis continues. Over the last decade, Missouri's revenue has dropped to historic lows. Missouri policymakers have responded by depending upon a series of temporary funding and by making severe cuts to an array of state services. The crisis is not over. MBP estimates the state will face a $1 billion shortfall in FY 2012. Click here to read more.

Happy Birthday to Medicare- Lessons to be Learned

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:29:03 GMT

July 30th is the 45th birthday of Medicare, the successful public health insurance for seniors and people with a disability. This birthday offers important lessons about the power of public structures to benefit individuals in communities across the state. Medicare is a great example of what states cannot do individually, but of what we can accomplish together as a nation. Click here to read more.

Missouri General Revenue Report: Missouri Ends Fiscal Year 2010 with Record Drop in Revenue

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:20:38 GMT

Missouri's general revenue ended the fiscal year more than 9 percent below the previous year, likely the largest decline in one year since the Great Depression. Click here to read more details.

How Health Care Reform Affects Long Term Care

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:50:30 GMT

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How Health Care Reform Affects Medicare

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:49:16 GMT

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How Health Care Reform Affects Medicare

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:49:16 GMT

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How Health Care Reform Affects Rural Missourians

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:48:14 GMT

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How Health Care Reform Affects Small Businesses

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:46:42 GMT

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How Health Care Reform Affects Working Families

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:45:45 GMT

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How Health Care Reform Affects Women

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:44:27 GMT

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How Health Care Reform Affects Children

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:43:14 GMT

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Proposition C is Just a Distraction from the Real Issue

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:03:41 GMT

Proposition C is just a distraction from the real issue: how to assure affordable health care for Missourians. Voting NO on Prop C on August 3 is a WISE CHOICE. Click here to read more.

End of extended unemployment benefits means hard times for more than 47,700 Missourians

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:13:47 GMT

The U.S. Senate's failure to approve extended unemployment benefits means that 47,700 Missourians will have lost their benefits by the end of this week. Unless Congress acts, 71,400 Missourians will lose their benefits by the end of July. Click here to read more about the "who, what and where" of unemployment in Missouri.

Summary of Revenue Solutions

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:27:05 GMT

Cut hurt! For the past 20 days the Missouri Budget Project has highlighted 20 ways that budget cuts hurt individuals, families, communities and all of us. Click here to read 20 Ways in 20 Days. There is a better way! Instead of just relying on cuts, Missouri needs to use common sense balanced solutions for its budget. Click here to read a summary of some of the better ways Missouri could choose.

Governor Nixon Announces Over $300 Million in Further FY2011 Budget Cuts

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:09:29 GMT

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon today announced an additional $301.4 million in budget cuts for fiscal year 2011 (FY 2011), which begins on July 1, 2010. These significant cuts come at a time when the Governor has announced his interest in holding a special legislative session to approve $15 million per year in tax incentives for Ford Motor Company at the expense of state employees’ retirement benefits. Click here to read a news release on this latest round of budget cuts.

Special Session Could Pit Perks for Major Company Against State Employees’ Pensions

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:09:18 GMT

Governor Nixon is considering a special legislative session to pass a bill to offer Ford Motor Company $150 million in tax incentives. The state would “pay for” the incentives through significant cuts to pension benefits for state employees. While $150 million may be a small amount compared to Ford's first quarter 2010 profits of $2.1 billion, it is a major sum for Missouri’s state employees who remain the lowest paid in the nation. Click here to read a new Policy Pulse article on this timely topic.

Missouri Budget Project Statement on Proposed Special Legislative Session

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:11:53 GMT

Two proposals up for consideration during a special legislative session of the Missouri General Assembly would expand spending on tax incentives for Ford Motor Company by $10 million per year and ‘pay for’ this increase through significant cuts to pension benefits for state employees. Click here to read a statement from Amy Blouin.

Strengthening Resources for a Better Missouri

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:31:13 GMT

This updated presentation provides an overview of the state of Missouri’s budget and options for strengthening the resources available for investing in the services and infrastructure that benefit all Missourians. June 2010

The Clock is Ticking: Health Care Reform Begins This Year

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:45:50 GMT

The federal health care bills signed in March 2010 will begin to fix much of what is wrong with the current health care system. Of course, it cannot all happen at one time. Click here to read a short summary that shows when some of the important changes began and when others will take place.

20 Ways in 20 Days

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:45:15 GMT

CUTS HURT! Balancing the budget by only cutting services means pain for Missouri’s children, parents, seniors and all of us. For the 20 weekdays leading up to the deadline for the Governor to sign the budget, the Missouri Budget Project is highlighting a different way each day that Missourians will be affected by budget cuts. There is a better way! Click here for information about 20 Ways in 20 Days.

Job Announcement

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:01:22 GMT

The Missouri Budget Project is looking for a new outreach and communications team member. Click here for more information. Applications due by June 18, 2010.