TOPEKA – The House easily passed a bill Thursday that would cut elected officials’ pay by 5 percent and Medicaid provider payments by 10 percent in the current budget.
Senate substitute for House Bill 2222 will eliminates about $92 million from the current budget, which ends June 30. It passed 113-7.
Rep. Mario Goico, R-Wichita, voted no on the bill. “I cannot vote to have my constituents suffer the unintended consequence of underfunding Medicaid,” he said.
He had offered an amendment that would have eliminated the 10 percent cut, which affects providers such as doctors, hospitals and nursing homes. The amendment failed.
The budget cuts were suggested by Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson in November; legislators still had to consider whether to approve them. The House added the pay cut for elected officials Wednesday.
The Senate passed its version of the bill two weeks ago. A conference committee now will resolve differences between the House and Senate versions.