Maine legislature fails to override governor’s Medicaid expansion veto
Gov. LePage officially blocks fully expanding Medicaid on veto day
Updated: 10:47 PM EDT Jul 9, 2018
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WEBVTT JOINS US LIVE FROM THE STATEHOUSE TO TELL US WHAT IS HAPPENING. PAUL: LAWMAKERS ARE STILL IN THE STATE HOUSE TRYING TO HAMMER OUT A DEAL TO FREE UP MONEY THAT HAS BEEN EARMARKED FOR MAINE’S CLEAN ELECTION CANDIDATES. IT IS ONE OF THE FINAL STICKING POINTS OF A LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO END BACK IN APRIL. A LOT OF THE WORK LAWMAKERS DID EARLIER TONIGHT HAD TO DO WITH THE 40 OR SO VETOES. GOVERNOR LEPAGE HAS NOW SUCCESSFULLY BLOCKED FULLY EXPANDING MEDICAID UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT SIX TIMES. TODAY, THE LEGISLATOR SUSTAINED HIS LATEST VETO OF A BILL TO FUND MAINE’S SHARE OF THE COST. DEMOCRATIC HOUSE SPEAKER, SARA GIDEON. >> THE GOVERNOR HAS REJECTED THE FUNDING. UNFORTUNATELY, HOUSE REPUBLICANS JOINED HIM. PAUL: THE FUNDING THE OFFERED WAS UNSUSTAINABLE. THEY SPEAK ABOUT THE ONGOING COURT BATTLE AND THE ORDER FOR THE GOVERNOR TO TAKE STEP TOWARDS COMPLYING WITH THE LAW AND EXPANDING MEDICAID. >> HE HAS NOT DONE THAT YET. I EXPECT THE COURT CASE WILL SAY HE HAS TO DO THAT. WHAT THE COURTS CAN DO IS MAKE THE LEGISLATOR FUNDED. PAUL: LAWMAKERS SUSTAIN THE GOVERNOR’S VETO OF FUNDING FOR THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND BANNING CONVERSION THERAPY. THERE WERE BIPARTISAN EFFORTS TO OVERRIDE VETOES ON BILLS THAT GIVE PAY REACHES TO DIRECT CARE WORKERS, FUND COUNTY JAILS AND ARM FOREST RANGERS. WE ASKED THESE LEADERS FOR THEIR TAKEAWAYS FROM THE SESSION. >> I DO NOT THINK ANYBODY CANNOT LOOK BACK AND SAY, THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN MINORITY REALLY RAN THE BUILDING. PAUL: SPEAKER GIDEON SAID IT IS NOT ABOUT CONTROL IT IS ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY. >> ANYTHING ELSE SOMEBODY SAYS ABOUT VICTORY WERE BEING IN CHARGE IS JUST NONSENSE AND NOISE. PAUL: STILL NO END IN SIGHT TO THE CURRENT SPECIAL SESSION. LAWMAKERS HOPE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THAT CLEAN ELECTIONS BILL TONIGHT OR LATER IN THE WEEK. IT WILL LIKELY HAVE TO COME BACK HERE AGAIN FOR ANOTHER DATE TO DEAL WITH EVEN MORE VET
Maine legislature fails to override governor’s Medicaid expansion veto
Gov. LePage officially blocks fully expanding Medicaid on veto day
Updated: 10:47 PM EDT Jul 9, 2018
Maine lawmakers failed to override Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of funding Medicaid expansion while back in session for a day to deal with the many bills that didn’t survive LePage’s veto pen.
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The legislature was also unable to find backing to override vetoes on funding to keep the Downeast Correctional Facility open and banning conversion therapy for LGBT youth.
Lawmakers were able to override vetoes on bills that gave pay raises to direct care workers, funded county jails and armed forest rangers.