CloseUP: Bradley, Woodburn on Medicaid expansion, education savings accounts
Updated: 5:23 PM EDT May 13, 2018
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WEBVTT GOOD MORNING. I’M ADAM SEXTON. AT THE STATEHOUSE, THE SECOND YEAR OF A LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS SUPPOSED TO BE EASIER THAN THE FIRST. BUT THE SESSION WINDING UP WORK RIGHT NOW HAS BEEN A DOOZY WITH HEATED DEBATES, BIG ISSUES, AND CONSEQUENTIAL LEGISLATION BEING PASSED AND DEFEATED. HERE TO DISCUSS, THE LEADERS IN THE SENATE, MAJORITY LEADER JEB BRADLEY, REPUBLICAN FROM WOLFEBORO AND DEMOCRATIC LEADER , JEFF WOODBURN. LET’S START WITH MEDICAID EXPANSION. IT GETS PASSED ON A 16-6 VOTE. THIS HAS BEEN HOTLY DEBATED FOR FIVE YEARS. AND NOW IT’S CEMENTED ITS STATUS FOR THE NEXT FIVE. SEN. BRADLEY: I THINK IT IS A GREAT BIPARTISAN A CONGRESSMAN THAT SPEAKS GREAT FOR MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES, INCLUDING THE SENATE PRESIDENT, BUT ALSO GOVERN SUNUNU, WHO REALLY WENT TO WASHINGTON TO ACHIEVE A DIFFERENT WAY OF FUNDI IT THAT WAS NOT REJECTED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THE WAY IT WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. GET THE WORK REQUIREMENTS CEMENTED INTO PLACE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THIS BIPARTISAN ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT IS PROBABLY THE BEST TOOL TO PREVENT MENTAL HEALTH AND OPIOID SITUATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE INSURANCE FOR 50,000 PEOPLE, KEEP THEM OUT OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM, TO KEEP UNCOMPENSATED CARE WHICH IS A HIDD TAX ON EVERY PRIVATE INSURANCE PLAN IN THE STATE, KEEP THA DOWN, AND PUSH FOR LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS. A GREAT PARTISAN ACCOMPLISHMENT. IN PARTICULAR, WANT TO THANK GOVERNOR SUNUNU FOR PAVING THE WAY IN WASHINGTON TO GET IT DONE. A GREAT BIPARTISAN A ACCOMPLISHMENT. ADAM: SENATOR WOODBURN, YOU’VE GIVEN CREDIT TO SENATOR BRADLEY AS THE ARCHITECT OF THIS PLAN. BUT YOU’RE QUICK TO POINT OUT THAT THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS IS PROVIDING THE VOTES TO MAKE THIS WORK. SEN. WOODBURN: IT HAS BEEN A LONG AND TWISTED PATH. I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS IT IS GOOD POLICY. IT IS HELPING HOSPITALS, PROVIDING HEALTH CARE, STABILIZING OUR ECONOMY. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS IS NOT THE E BECAUSE HEALTH CARE IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT. WE NEED TO EXPAND IT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL. IT IS A GOOD PROGRAM. WE DID OUR JOBS. THE GOVERNMENT WORKED. A LOT O ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PEOPLE DESERVE THE PRAISE THEY ARE GETTING FOR THE WORK THAT HAPPENED. ADAM: DISCUSSIO ABOUT THE WORK REQUIREMENT AND HOW THAT WILL BE PHASED IN. WHO WILL BE OVERSEEING WEATHER RECIPIENTS ARE WORKING? SEN. BRADLEY: THE DEPARTMENT WITH MANAGED CARE. THAT IS IN THE PROCESS OF STARTING TO BE IMPLEMENTED. A PLAN HAS TO BE IN PLACE. IT WILL BE A TWO-STEP PROCESS. WE WORKED ON IT AND A BIPARTISAN WAY SO PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO COMPLY. AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY ARE GETTING THIS BENEFIT, THEY OUGHT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE REST OF THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE BY BEING ENGAGED IN THEIR COMMUNITY IN SOME WAY OR WORKING. I THINK IT IS A GOOD THING AND IT ENABLED T BIPARTISAN COOPERATION. ADAM: IS THERE A FIGHT? SEN. WOODBURN: HALF OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS WHO VOTED AGAINST THIS COMMONSENSE MEASURE THAT IS SUCCEEDING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, WHY THEY VOTED THE WAY THEY DID AND WHY WE NEED CHANGE IN THOSE DISTRICTS. ADAM: EVENTUALLY, DEMOCRATS WILL WANT TO PUSH FOR HEALTH CARE FOR ALL. WE ARE ALREADY SEEING REPUBLICAN CRITICS SAYING PREMIUMS ARE UP. IF YOU WANT TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE, HOW DOES THE STATE ENSURE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE WILL NOT SHOULDER MORE OF THE BURDEN FINANCIALLY? SEN. WOODBURN: I THINK WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT IN NEW HAMPSHI BY BRINGING EVERYBODY ALONG, LEAVING NOBODY OUT. THESE THINGS ARE OFTEN DONE INCREMENTALLY. THIS WAS A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE HAVE RENEWED IT. I THINK THIS IS BECOMING THE LAW OF THE LAND, THE NOTION OF WHAT GOVERNMENT DOES, AND WE DO NOT LEAVE FEDERAL MONEY ON THE TABLE. THIS IS COMING WITH NO STATE DOLLARS. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR THE NOTION THAT EVERYBODY DOES GET HEALTH CARE. EVERYBODY DOES. MAYBE IN THE WRONG PLACE, THE EMERGENCY ROOM, MAYBE AT THE WRONG TIME WHEN A SITUATION HAS GOTTEN WORSE THAN IT WOULD HAVE WITH PREVENTION, BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DELIVER HEALTH CARE TO ALL OUR PEOPLE AND KEEP WORKING TOWARDS THAT. SEN. BRADLEY: I WOULD ADD THAT MOVING TO A MANAGED CARE PRODUCT WHICH WE DO IN THIS BUILD, IT WILL SAVE MAYBE A COUPLE OF HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR FEDERAL AND STATE TAXPAYERS. WE ARE NOT RAISING TAXES TO PAY FOR IT. THERE ARE NO GENERAL FUNDS TO PAY FOR IT. IT WORKS FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY BY HAVING A HEALTHIER WORKFORCE, LOWERING UNCOMPENSATED CARE. 50,000 PEOPLE ARE ALSO GOING TO BENEFIT. NEW HAMPSHIRE TAXPAYERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE LEFT PICKING UP THE TAB. THESE ARE ALL THE PRESSURE POINTS WE NEEDED TO BALANCE. I THINK WE HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF DOING THAT. ADAM: THERE WAS A BIG DUSTUP OVER THE REVIVAL OF EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WILL COST. YOU ARE A SUPPORTER OF THE IDEA WHY NOT COME UP WITH GENERAL FUNDS FOR A PILOT PROGRAM TO SEE IF IT COULD WORK? SEN. BRADLEY: THAT MAY BE WHAT HAPPENS IN SUBSEQUENT LEGISLATION NEXT YEAR. BEING THE FATHER OF FO KIDS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE GREAT FOR THREE OF M KIDS. BUT EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU CANNOT ALWAYS MAKE A SQUARE PEG FIT IN A ROUND HOLE, AND KIDS NEED OPTIONS WHETHER IT IS CHARTER SCHOOLS, HOMESCHOOLING, OR OTHER SCHOOLS WHERE YOU GET THE ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE DOLLARS. I THINK IT IS AN ISSUE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO COME BACK BECAUSE KIDS AND PARENTS NEED THE KIND OPTIONS THE SENATE BILL ENVISIONED. A PILOT PROGRAM, A GOOD IDEA TO BE BROUGHT BACK NEXT YEAR I AM SURE. ADAM WOULD YOU SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SEPARATE MONEY? SEN. WOODBUR WE WILL LOOK AT ANYTHING AND CONSIDER IT ON ITS MERITS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE GOVERNOR AND REPUBLICAN LEADE TRIED TO CREATE WITH 3/10 TO GET THIS PAST IN THE HOUSE. EACH TIME, THEY SAID NO BECAUSE IT WOULD COST NEW HAMPSHIRE SCHOOLS $300 MILLION. EVERYBODY HAS A RIGHT TO GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IF YOU WANT TO GO TO A PRIVATE OR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL, THAT IS YOUR EXPENSE. IT IS NOT THE PUBLIC’S EXPENSE. WE ARE CRUSHING OUR SCHOOLS. OUR KIDS NEED TO BE SUPPORTED. WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB ON ADEQUACY AND DELIVERY OF EDUCATION. THIS TAKES MONEY OUT OF THE SCHOOL AND SETS A TERRIBLE PRECEDENT. THAT IS NOT THE WAY WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY. WE PAY FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS. WE WANT THEM TO SUCCEED. WE DON’T PULL PEOPLE APART. SEN. BRADLEY: THERE WAS NO TRICKERY HERE. THIS WAS A LEGISLATIVE OPTION. UNTIL THE DOORS CLOSE, THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE BILLS. WE DID THAT ON BILLS SENATOR WOODBURN SUPPORTS AND ARE SENDING BACK TO THE HOUSE. NO TRICKERY WHATSOEVER. THERE IS A PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCE. THE DIFFERENCE IS PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF THINK PARENTS AND KIDS NE OPTIONS AND THAT WILL MAKE FOR A BETTER EDUCATION SYSTEM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS DEBATE. THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS WITH HOMESCHOOLING, CHARTE SCHOOLS, THE EDUCATION BILL THAT SENATOR FORSYTH INTRODUCED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THEY ARE ALL WORKING. THEY ARE VERY LIMITED. THEY HAVE NOT HAD A BIG IMPACT ON SCHOOL BUDGETS. I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT TREND. AN PARENT KNOWS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT. ADAM: YOU CALL TRICKERY, BUT YOU MIGHT BE MAJORITY LEADER EVENTUALLY. SEN. WOODBURN: THIS BILL DIED THREE SEPARATE DEATHS. THE FACT IT KEPT BEI ADDED BACK ON BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT TAKE NO — SOMETIMES YOU LOSE IN THIS BUSINESS. IT IS OVER AND YOU MOVE ON. THE TREND IS BAD HERE. YOU LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN AND SAY I’M GOING TO BUILD A FOUR-STORY HOUSE AND I WANT TO TAKE MY MONEY I WAS PAYING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE MY OWN. IF THE PUBLIC SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK FOR YOU, WE HAVE CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PLACEMENT FOR SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS. THAT IS PART OF THE ROUTINE THAT HAPPENS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS. BUT WE DON’T HAVE A SITUATION WHERE YOU CAN CHOOSE TO TAKE TAX DOLLARS OUT AND SEND YOUR KID TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL. IT IS THE WRONG DIRECTION. IT IS BREAKING UP THE COMMUNI WHILE WE ARE NEGLECTING SCHOOLS. SEN. BRADLEY: AND OFFERS NO CHOICES FOR STUDENTS. THAT IS THE PHILOSOPHICAL DISPUTE. THAT IS WHY WE WILL KEEP PUSHING THIS. IT IS UNFORTUNATE HAVE THIS INTRANSIGENCE BY MY FRIEND, SENATOR WOODBURN, TO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT WHAT PARENTS GO THROUGH AS THEY TRY TO EDUCATE THEIR KIDS. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE HERE. ADAM: ONE LAST QUESTION. BOTH OF YOU HAVE TO TAKE WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE STATEHOUSE BACK TO THE VOTERS. WHAT WILL YOU RUN ON IN 2018? >> THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES ABOUT WHICH PARTY IS MORE RESPONSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. FOR ME, THE ISSUE IS THE WAY WE TREAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE KIDS. NEW HAMPSHIRE IS IN CRISIS ON HOW WE TAKE CARE OF KIDS. WE HAVE BEEN SUED. WE HAVE PROBLEMS AT THE CENTER ABOUT — THE YOUTH CENTER ABOUT THE TACTICS USED. WE NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING. TODAY WE ARE SPENDING LESS AT DCYF THEN WE WERE 11 YEARS AGO. THAT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE, AND WE ARE BEING SUED FOR THE WAY WE TAKE CARE OF KIDS. FOR ME, KIDS ARE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE. SEN. BRADLEY IT IS FUNNY HE WOULD BRING THAT UP BECAUSE HE VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET THAT WOULD ADD 20 NEW POSITIONS TO THE DIVISION THAT DEALS WITH THE ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF KIDS. IT IS INTERESTING YOU BRING THIS AGAIN BECAUSE SENATOR WOODBURN VOTED AGAINST $10 MILLION TO MAKE SCHOOLS SAFER. I AM HAPPY TO HAVE THIS KIND OF DEBA BECAUSE WE HAVE THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE COUNTRY, THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA INCOME IN THE COUNTRY, THE LOWEST POVERTY RATE IN THE COUNTRY. WE ARE THE MOST LIVABLE STATE NEXT TO MASSACHUSETTS. THINGS ARE GOING WELL. IT IS A RESULT OF GOVERNOR SUNUNU’S GREAT LEADERSHIP. BUSINESS IS BOOMING. PEOPLE ARE BENEFITING FROM IT. I THINK THIS IS A WEIGHT –RIGHT WAY TO GO INTO THE FILE. SEN. WOODBURN: I CANNOT WAIT FOR THAT DEBATE. ADAM: WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE IT HERE BEFORE NOVEMBER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS SUNDAY MORNING. AFTER THE BREAK, A LOOK AT CONTROVERSIAL LEGISLA
CloseUP: Bradley, Woodburn on Medicaid expansion, education savings accounts
Updated: 5:23 PM EDT May 13, 2018
State Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, and State Senate Minority Leader Jeff Woodburn, D-Whitefield, sit down with WMUR Political Director Adam Sexton on CloseUP to discuss health care, Medicaid expansion and education savings accounts.
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