Maine lawmakers debate Medicaid funding as legislature reconvenes
Updated: 6:20 PM EST Jan 3, 2018
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WEBVTT PAUL: THIS YEAR’S BIGGESTNON-ELECTION FIGHT WILL LIKELYBE OVER MEDICAID EXPANSION.IN NOVEMBER, 59% OF MAINE VOTERSAPPROVED OFFERING MAINECARE TOABOUT 80,000 NON-DISABLED,CHILDLESS ADULTS.THE PROBLEM IS THE PRICETAG.EXPANSION UNDER THE AFFORDABLECARE ACT COULD COST MAINE $100MILLION.DEMOCRATIC HOUSE MAJORITY LEADERERIN HERBIG IS OPTIMISTIC.>> I KNOW THAT WHEN SOMETHING ISA PRIORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE,WE DO COME TOGETHER AND GET ITDONE, AND I’M CONFIDENT WE CANDO THAT.PAUL: GOVERNOR LEPAGE HAS FOUGHTAGAINST EXPANDING MEDICAID FORYEARS.HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER KENFREDETTE IS THE GOVERNOR’S CHIEFALLY IN THE LEGISLATURE.>> THERE ARE REAL QUESTIONSABOUT FUNDING THAT WE NEED TOLOOK AT, AND WE’LL DO THAT ASPART OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.PAUL: YEAH, ANY IDEA, EARLY ON,WHERE THAT MONEY COULD BE FOUND?>> NONE.PAUL: REPUBLICAN SENATEPRESIDENT MIKE THIBODEAU SAYSTHERE ARE OTHER THINGS THELEGISLATURE NEEDS TO PAY FORWITH THE MONEY THE STATE TAKESIN.>> RUNOFF A LOT OF THOSERESOURCES AN AWFUL LOT OF THEM– RESOURCES IMMEDIATELY GETTAKEN UP WITH THE HOME HEALTHNURSE SITUATION, WITH INDIGENTLEGAL SERVICES, WITH ALL OF THELOOSE ENDS THAT WERE LEFT IN ABUDGET.PAUL: THE MORATORIUM ON OPENINGRETAIL MARIJUANA SHOPS EXPIRESAT THE END OF JANUARY.FREDETTE SAYS LAWMAKERS WILL BUYTHEMSELVES MORE TIME.>> I PREDICT, IN THE NEXT 30DAYS, THERE’S GOING TO BE ANEXTENSION OF THE MORATORIUMUNTIL EITHER MAY OR JULY.PAUL: THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR,AND MANY LAWMAKERS INCLUDING ALL3 IN THIS STORY ARE RUNNING FORHIGHER OFFICE.WILL THE FINAL YEAR OF THELEPAGE ERA BE AN UGLY ONE?>> THERE ARE TOO MANY CRITICALISSUES TO ALLOW SOMEONE’SREELECTION OR THE NEXT OFFICETHEY’RE SEEKING TO GET IN THEWAY.>> I THINK WE’LL BE VERYSUCCESSFUL.>> IT GETS MESSY AT TIMES.THAT’S WHAT DEMOCRACY’S ABOUT.PAUL: STATE LAWMAKERS WILL BEMEETING HERE AT THE STATE HOUSETHROUGHOUT THE REST OF JANUARY,BUT HEARINGS ARE ALREADYCANCELLED FOR TOMORROW BECAUSE
Maine lawmakers debate Medicaid funding as legislature reconvenes
Updated: 6:20 PM EST Jan 3, 2018
Medicaid funding is at the top of the agenda as Maine lawmakers go back to work Tuesday in Augusta.
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