Updated: General Assembly to adopt insurance expansion

The Kansas City Star reports that state budget makers have agreed to fund health insurance expansion based on an increase in Federal Reimbursement Allowance and disproportionate share hospital fund reallocation.

Update: According to news reports, the House Republican caucus may contain as many as 35 members who are opposed to the expansion. From today's edition of The Kansas City Star:

“There are a number of members in the House Republican caucus who do not like the idea,” said House Budget Chairman Allen Icet, a St. Louis County Republican. “Where it goes, I don’t know.”

Rep. David Sater, a Cassville Republican, suggested that 25 to 35 Republicans might oppose the expansion.

The Republican opposition could present a difficult choice for Democrats. The party in recent years has opposed the budget bills for social services, arguing they don’t do enough to help the needy.

“The problem we’ve got is some Republicans think it’s too much and some Democrats think it’s not enough,” said Rep. Chris Kelly, a Columbia Democrat and the minority’s ranking budget member.