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Today's Poll!Medicaid shaping up as major issue
Gov. Jay Nixon delivers his remarks at Thursday morning’s annual Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. Photo by Julie Smith.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Gov. Jay Nixon said Thursday he still thinks expanding the Medicaid program in Missouri is a good idea — even though the Legislature’s Republican leaders aren’t interested.
The governor has been promoting the expansion idea for several weeks.
It’s part of the federal Affordable Care Act — which some call “Obamacare” — and Congress promised to pay for the first three years of the expansion, as part of the controversial 2010 health care law.
“We stand to lose $250 million a year if we step away from this,” Nixon told reporters after the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning. “Our federal partners are going to fund this — (and) it’s the right thing to do.”
But new Senate President Tom Dempsey doesn’t share Nixon’s confidence.
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Comments
hater1234 5 months, 1 week ago
Don't tell me, Dempsy has never been a single parent that had medical bills but didnt quite qualify for Medicaid. Or Dempsy has always had a job that provided health benefits. Dempsy has always had everything handed on a silver platter so doesn't understand how that could benefit the average person. Next time he is getting gas, his hair cut, or eating at a restaurant, he should ask the people helping them. More than likely they are in this boat
BillyJoeRayBob 5 months, 1 week ago
It is not the right thing to do .. There are no free dollars there for Missouri or any state in the nation .. it's billions more being added to the federal debt to add more people to the entitlement programs .. The right answer would be "No we are not going to expand the Medicaid program while we are teetering on a fiscal cliff. We are going to take a close look at how we are spending our current Medicaid dollars; weeding out rampant fraud and unneeded services like paying relatives to take care of their relatives, misuse of ambulance and emergency room services, prescription fraud (selling their pills on the street) and the like". Missouri tax payers will ultimately end up paying for that "federal money" with higher federal taxes, lost deductions, etc. It's time for Gov. Nixon (D) to man up and politely decline to increase the federal debt.
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