In an interesting move, protectmissouri.org has issued a report (with concrete numbers), to show how closing the state's tax loopholes could prevent the state's proposed cuts to education and healthcare. The report alleges that 98 Missouri corporations paid NO taxes last year...and more than 16,000 corporations paid less than the average Missouri citizen. If Missouri's budget crunch is anything like Ohio's, this seems to be a completely unacceptable way to run things.

Missouri media KY3 has an interesting article about what EXACTLY the proposed cuts would mean to Missouri citizens.

Of particular interest to this blog are:

~$34, 419 cut to Child Assessment Centers ? which provide home-like settings where children receive physical exams and are interviewed during abuse and neglect investigations.  These centers help reduce the trauma to children from child abuse and neglect.

~$118,749 cut to Juvenile Court Diversion Services in Greene County  ? which will halt early intervention services to youth at imminent risk of being committed to the Division of Youth Services.  These programs include intensive supervision and alternative schools.

~48 Grandparent Families will have their reimbursement for caring for their grandchildren reduced from 75% of the foster care rate to 25% of the foster care rate.  The impact in Greene County is $91,614.  Loss of this income could cause an increase in the number of these families who qualify for, and seek, welfare assistance.