JEFFERSON CITY – The public will decide whether to deny or expand Medicaid for tens of thousands of Missourians on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

A “yes” vote supports:

• Expanding Medicaid eligibility in Missouri to adults, ages 19 to 65, whose income is 133% of the federal poverty level or below – in 2020, this amounted to an annual income of $17,608 for an individual and $36,156 for a household of four;

• Prohibiting additional restrictions or requirements for the expanded population to qualify for Medicaid coverage; and

• Requiring the state to seek maximum federal funding of Medicaid expansion.

A “no” vote opposes this constitutional amendment to expand Medicaid eligibility in Missouri under the Affordable Care Act.

Former Gov. Matt Blunt, a Republican, decided in 2005 to save the state money by knocking an estimated 100,000 adult Missourians off Medicaid. Arguably, the savings went to tax breaks, such as $66 million in 2007 for developers, filmmakers and cattle growers.

Some state leaders for years h…