MO House debates child care, schools and diversity in budget. Here's what was cut, added

JEFFERSON CITY — In an hours-long debate that went into the night Tuesday, the Missouri House wrestled over how to spend, or not spend, tens of billions of taxpayer dollars in the annual state budget.

Lawmakers honed in on line-items for K-12 education and child care, both red-hot topics of discussion in the statehouse this year, as Republicans exercised caution while Democrats proposed additional spending.

Republican members also cut state funding for libraries in retaliation for an ongoing lawsuit against the state, and language added to the budget would restrict dollars from flowing to diversity, equity and inclusion programs, vendors and staffing across state government.

The House is set to take a final vote on the budget by the end of the week. It will then head to the Senate, where members are expected to make significant changes and likely add dollars where the House declined to.

Child care dollars included, but pre-K money waits for legislative path

The House's budget proposal includes $78 million to increase the reimbursement rate for child care facilities, as lawmakers in both parties look for paths to solve what has been called a "child care crisis" amid rising costs and labor shortages in the industry.

Currently, Missouri's subsidy rate is at the 25th percentile for infants, 22nd percentile for preschoolers and 21st percentile for school-aged children relative to the market rate. These dollars would raise those rates to the 58th percentile across the board, matching what Gov. Mike Parson recommended in his budget proposal.

"Obviously there are a lot of conversations swirling around the Capitol about child care, pre-K," said Rep. Cody Smith, a Carthage Republican who chairs the House budget committee.

More:How to make daycare more affordable? Missouri weighs tax credits for providers, employers

An attempt by Democrats to raise the reimbursement rate further, to the 75th percentile, was shot down by Republicans.

"Going to the 58th percentile isn't even the bare minimum," said Rep. Peter Merideth, a St. Louis Democrat and the lead Democrat on the budget committee. "If we want to actually make sure we address our child care problem, we should at least be hitting our target. ... It would still be three-fourths of the actual market rate."

Money was not included to expand pre-kindergarten programs across the state for all four-year-olds eligible for free and reduced lunches, another priority of the governor's. Smith and House Republicans opted to set aside around $55 million that could be dedicated to the expansion later, but argued that first the legislature needed to pass legislation allowing that money to be spent.

"We can continue the conversation," Smith said. "There will be some money there."

Democrats attempted to restore the money for pre-K expansion by using dollars from the state lottery, an amendment that was also voted down by Republicans.

More:In a post-Roe Missouri, lawmakers turn focus on new mothers' health and child care

Library funds cut in response to lawsuit

Republicans cut $4.5 million in state funding for public libraries out of the budget, in response to a pending lawsuit by library associations against a state law that has led to book removals.

The dollars make up a portion of libraries' funding, the majority of which comes from local taxes and revenues. Smith said during committee negotiations that he was upset over the lawsuit, and that the state shouldn't provide funding. The law, passed last year by the legislature, bans "providing explicit sexual material to a student," and prompted libraries to remove a number of volumes out of caution.

More:Librarians sue over Missouri law that bans 'explicit sexual material,' spurred book removals

Republicans defended both the law and their decision to cut the funding after being criticized by Democrats, who tried and failed to restore the money to the budget.

"It's been said this is a book ban," said Rep. Dirk Deaton, a Noel Republican and the second-ranking member on the budget committee. "This is not that. It is about protecting innocent children."

Ban across schools, government on programs, staff, vendors "associated with" diversity, equity and inclusion

Missouri government and schools would be banned from using money for "staffing, vendors, consultants or programs associated with" diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging efforts under language inserted into the budget by a Republican lawmaker.

The amendment, added to every budget bill by Republican Rep. Doug Richey of Excelsior Springs, also includes a ban on initiatives that promote "the preferential treatment of any individual or group of individuals based upon race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry." It "does not prohibit" agencies from "following federal and state employment and anti-discrimination laws."

The addition of the language to the budget comes as Republican members of the General Assembly take aim at diversity and equity initiatives across education.

"We are able to do this, it's not a problem whatsoever," Richey said, arguing that the initiatives have grown out of "neo-Marxist theory" and left-wing schools of thought. "This in no way limits our ability to promote a gracious, kind and accommodating society."

Democrats strongly objected to the language, calling for roll-call votes every time it came up on budget bills and presenting possible situations in which it could impede key government initiatives and practices. Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield said she was worried it would prohibit state foster services from placing children in requested religious homes; Merideth said it would spur teachers to shy away from discussions of race and history.

Black Democrats grew increasingly frustrated at the language throughout debate, eventually calling it "racist."

"This amendment is very dangerous," said Rep. Marlene Terry of St. Louis. "It's taking us back to the Jim Crow laws."

Money for I-70, other highway renovations tabled as discussions continue

Among the largest changes to the governor's proposed budget in the House was the removal of more than $800 million intended for expansion of parts of Interstate 70, which cuts through Kansas City and St. Louis as it crosses mid-Missouri.

Smith said lawmakers had taken the money out of the Department of Transportation's budget and intended to allocate it as part of another budget bill still to be discussed, as members jockey for funding to renovate Interstate 44 and other highways across the state.

GOP-led attempt to ban money for death penalty comes up short

One Republican's attempt to ban money being used by the Department of Corrections for the death penalty came up short of being added to the budget.

"There are some people who deserve to die, but no one deserves to be murdered," said Rep. Tony Lovasco, an O'Fallon Republican. "It's time that we end this practice in Missouri."

Lovasco said the measure had previously been offered by Democrats, but that "it's time that the GOP start fighting for the people."

"We are letting down the people that the state is using your tax money to kill," he said.

The amendment failed by a 63-87 vote, with a number of Republicans joining Democrats voting in favor of banning the practice.

Galen Bacharier covers Missouri politics & government for the News-Leader. Contact him at gbacharier@news-leader.com or on Twitter @galenbacharier.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: MO House debates child care, schools & diversity amid budget cuts