Maine Governor Balks At Expanding Medicaid Even After Voters Had Their Say
Gov. Paul LePage (R), who has vetoed similar plans five times, says his administration will only implement expansion if it's fully funded by the state Legislature.
The Associated Press:
Governor Says Voters Wrong to Approve Medicaid Expansion
Maine's governor said Wednesday that residents of his state made an expensive mistake when they voted to expand access to Medicaid under the federal health care law, and he's hesitant to implement it. Gov. Paul LePage, an opponent of "Obamacare" like his ally and fellow Republican, President Donald Trump, has vetoed five different attempts by the state Legislature to expand the program. But Maine voters decided the issue at the polls Tuesday, approving a Medicaid expansion under former President Barack Obama's signature Affordable Care Act. (Whittle, 11/8)
The Washington Post:
Maine Voters Just Resoundingly Approved A Medicaid Expansion. Their Governor Is Trying To Stop It From Going Into Effect.
LePage issued a statement Wednesday saying he will open Medicaid to new people only if the state legislature fully funds it without raising taxes, without pulling from the state's rainy day fund or without taking money from the elderly or disabled. That's despite the fact Maine residents voted on the initiative knowing it would likely raise taxes. "Credit agencies are predicting that this fiscally irresponsible Medicaid expansion will be ruinous to Maine’s budget," LePage said. (Phillips, 11/8)
Kaiser Health News:
Maine Voters Greenlight Medicaid Expansion, But Governor Says Whoa
LePage has long been a staunch opponent of Medicaid expansion. The Maine Legislature has passed bills to expand the insurance program five times since 2013, but the governor vetoed each one. That track record prompted Robyn Merrill, co-chair of the coalition Mainers for Health Care, to take the matter directly to voters Tuesday. The strategy worked. Medicaid expansion, or Question 2, passed handily, with 59 percent of voters in favor and 41 percent against. (Wight, 11/9)
The Hill:
Maine's Governor Won't Expand Medicaid Despite Approval Of Ballot Measure
Maine's House Speaker Sara Gideon (D) said in a statement that the legislature would implement the Medicaid expansion measure, and will fight the governor if he tries to intervene. "The legislature will move swiftly to fund Medicaid expansion as required by law. The governor and DHHS commissioner will implement its requirements as well, as they are obligated to do," Gideon said. (Weixel, 11/8)
Portland (Maine) Press Herald:
LePage Says He’ll Block Voter-Approved Medicaid Expansion Unless Legislators Fund It
A total of 343,838 ballots were cast Tuesday on Question 2, a higher-than-expected turnout, and the measure passed by 202,616 to 141,222, or 59 percent to 41 percent. (Thistle, 11/8)
Boston Globe:
Maine Governor Threatens To Thwart Medicaid Expansion Approved By Voters
The passage of the ballot measure, known as Question 2, will make Maine the 32nd state to expand Medicaid coverage under the federal health law, but the first to do so by a popular vote, rather than by a decision of the Legislature and the governor. (Levenson, 11/8)
Bangor (Maine) Daily News:
What’s Next For Medicaid Expansion As LePage And Democrats Dig In
Tuesday’s Medicaid expansion vote was a rebuke to LePage, who has vetoed Medicaid expansion five times. But there are many ways to stall a law. The governor said in a Wednesday statement that he wouldn’t implement expansion unless the Legislature achieves hard-to-meet and disputed goals. Here’s how the fight to give health coverage to 70,000 Mainers could go. (Shepherd, 11/8)