By Carol Stark

cstark@joplinglobe.com

CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Missouri House version of Gov. Matt Blunt’s Insure Missouri program has been filed and legislators will take it up as soon as they return to Jefferson City after spring break next week.

State Rep. Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho, told area business leaders and chamber members gathered Friday in Carthage for an “eggs and issues” meeting that discussion on the bill, which proposes providing insurance to the working poor, will “ramp up” right after the break.

About 75 people attended the meeting held by the Carthage Chamber of Commerce and listened to legislative updates from state Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin; state Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin; state Rep. Ed Emery, R-Lamar; state Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin; and Wilson.

Wilson said Southwest Missouri legislators would support a compromise bill that would help provide solutions to insure the working low-income.

State Rep. Doug Ervin, R-Holt, drafted the legislation. Richard, Wilson, Hunter, Emery and state Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, are listed among the co-sponsors. House Bill No. 2413, filed late Wednesday, replaces Blunt’s Insure Missouri program, which he had hoped to implement without legislative approval.

Blunt had proposed the state help more Missourians buy their own health insurance. His administration had argued that the approval of MO Health Net by the legislature last year gives it the go-ahead to create the program, but legislators on both sides disagreed.

Wilson said some felt Blunt’s program went too far, while others didn’t think it did enough.

Ervin said one of the primary differences in the bill and the governor’s plan is accountability. Those who meet the criteria for the state program will be required to place one percent of their income into a personal account that would be used to help them meet deductibles. He said failure to so do would result in expulsion from the program.

He said the bill also deals with the uninsurable — those with high-risk health problems who are unable to buy insurance.

Blunt had wanted the program to get under way July 1, but Ervin said the ability to do so if the legislation is passed will depend on funding.

Legislators also fielded questions from those attending. John Putnam, a spokesman for Citizens for A Decent Environment, encouraged support for Emery’s bill that would add restrictions barring nudity in dance clubs, prohibit seminude workers from touching patrons or soliciting tips, and require dancers to be 10 feet away from patrons, on a stage and behind a railing. It also would specify that a building can contain only one sexually-oriented business. For example, a strip club would be banned from also selling books or videos.

Putnam said he and other neighbors also appealed to Emery for help with state legislation that targets sexually-oriented businesses, such as adult video stores, also along I-44 in Jasper County.

“We believe bikini-clad servers, liquor and triple-X-rated videos are a bad combination,” said Putnam.