By Tony Messenger of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
House Speaker Ron Richard and Gov. Jay Nixon have continued their battle to be the champion of families with autistic children today, with competing announcements concerning legislation in the upcoming session of the General Assembly.
Richard, a Republican, today touted a bill filed by Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst, R-St. Louis, in a phone conference call that was hastily announced. Richard’s spokeswoman said the bill will get a quick committee hearing.
Half an hour after Richard’s conference call, Nixon announced in a news release that tomorrow, he and three Republicans (Sen. Scott Rupp of Wentzville, Sen. Eric Schmitt of Glendale, and Rep. Jeff Grisamore of Lee’s Summit), will detail their version of the bill in visits throughout the state.
At the end of this legislative session, Nixon said that he would make autism insurance a priority. Both Nixon and Rupp blamed House leadership for killing last year’s bill, which would require insurance companies to cover therapy for children with autism.
Richard said that last year’s bill would have been too expensive for insurance companies, and he vowed to pass an affordable bill in the upcoming session.
