Medicaid expansion takes center stage in gubernatorial race
Updated: 8:04 PM EDT Jul 12, 2018
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WEBVTT MAKE SENSE FOR MAINE NOT TO JOIN THAT LIST. >> THIS IS A HEALTH HORROR STORY THAT NOT EVEN STEPHEN KING COULD IMAGINE COULD CONTINUE IN THE STATE OF MAINE. PAUL: THE WASHINGTON GOVERNOR AND CHAIR FRAMED HIS SUPPORT FOR JANET MILLS IN TERMS OF MEDICAID EXPANSION. SOMETHING HE’S DONE IN HIS HOME STATE AND SOMETHING GOVERNOR LEPAGE HAS CONSISTENTLY BLOCKED FROM HAPPENING HERE. >> IT IS ABSOLUTELY NUTS NOT TO ACCEPT FREE MONEY TO HELP THIS EFFORT WHEN PEOPLE NEED HEALTH CARE. THERE IS NO EXPLANATION FOR THAT EXCEPT THIS. RIGID IDEOLOGY. PAUL: GOVERNOR LEPAGE BLAMES THE LEGISLATURE FOR NOT IDENTIFYING A LONG TERM FUNDING SOURCE FOR MEDICAID EXPANSION. HE SAID THIS DURING A RADIO INTERVIEW YESTERDAY MORNING. >> ONE THING I KNOW IS NOBODY CAN FORCE ME TO PUT THE STATE IN RED INK AND I WILL NOT DO THAT. SO YOU’RE TELLING ME I GO TO JAIL BEFORE I PUT THE STATE IN RED INK AND IF THAT’S THE COURT TELLS ME I HAVE TO DO IT, THEN WE’RE GOING TO BE GOING TO JAIL. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY FLIP ANSWER TO A VERY, VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. PAUL: MILLS TOLD US THE GOVERNOR SHOULD STOP PLAYING THE BLAME GAME AND GET TO WORK ON FUNDING THE LAW. >> HE HASN’T BEEN TO THE TABLE, HE’S ONLY COMPLAINED THAT SOMEBODY ELSE HASN’T DONE IT. WHY HASN’T HE COME TO THE TABLE? PAUL: THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL NOMINEE SHAWN MOODY SIDES WITH GOVERNOR LEPAGE ON THE MEDICAID EXPANSION ISSUE. TODAY, MOODY’S CAMPAIGN MANAGER LAUREN LEPAGE TOLD US THIS. SHAWN WILL NOT RISK THE FISCAL HEALTH OF THE STATE TO EXPAND WELFARE FOR NONDISABLED INDIVIDUALS AND WILL NOT SUPPORT FUNDING WELFARE BY RAISING TAXES, RAIDING THE RAINY DAY FUND OR USING ONE TIME BUDGET GIMMICKS. >> IT’S NOT OFTEN THAT PEOPLE RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND SAY I WANT TO CONTINUE A FAILURE OF MY PREDECESSOR. PAUL: REPUBLICANS POINT TO WHAT THEY SAY ARE FAILURES THAT FOLLOWED WASHINGTON STATE’S EXPANSION OF MEDICAID. THERE WAS A $162 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THAT TODAY, THE GOVERNOR BLAMED THE SHORTFALL ON THE BALLOONING COSTS OF PHARMACEUTICALS AND SAYS THE EXPANSION WAS OVERALL AN ECONOMIC WIN CREATING, HE SA
Medicaid expansion takes center stage in gubernatorial race
Updated: 8:04 PM EDT Jul 12, 2018
The chair of the Democratic Governor’s Association stumped for gubernatorial candidate Janet Mills on Thursday as the battle over medicaid expansion heats up.
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