Nebraska governor says state cannot afford Medicaid expansion

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Wed Jul 11, 2012 1:33pm EDT

(Reuters) - Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman said on Wednesday the state cannot afford the expansion of the Medicaid program under President Obama's healthcare law, but stopped short of saying whether the Midwestern state would join six others rejecting the expansion.

Heineman, a Republican, said in a letter to senators Wednesday that the expansion would force Nebraska to cut funding for education.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the health care law gives states the choice of opting out of the expansion. Republican governors in six states - Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Mississippi and Louisiana - have said they will not implement the expanded coverage for low-income uninsured people, a key part of President Barack Obama's signature law.

Heineman said he would not be sending the state health director to a meeting called by Nebraska senators for Thursday because it is an organizational meeting with advocacy groups that support an expansion of Medicaid.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/11/us-usa-health-nebraska-idUSBRE86A0XC20120711

[liberal N proud]

1. Isn't the Federal Government going to pay for it?

Fee money you fucking moron.

[Roselma]

4. Yup...the federal government

pays 100% of the increase in the first 3 years, 95% for the next couple of years, and 90% for the continuing program. Thing is...Republicans watch Foxnews, read conservative blogs, and generally are unaware of this. The governor of Nebraska is counting on their ignorance, and the administration is doing a poor job of shooting down these stupid complaints from Republican governors.

[The Magistrate]

2. Bullshit, Sir: The Wretch Had Better See To Some Taxes Being Paid By Business Interests In His State

He just does not much want to do it; it would be perfectly possible to afford it....

[elleng]

3. Cannot afford WHAT, exactly?

[Robbins]

5. Republican

worried about cuts to education.That's a first.

[0rganism]

6. How is that even possible, with Fed money covering it 100% for several years?

Does Nebraska have a special law about how federal medicaid money over a certain amount must be used as mulch?

Oh wait, he's just lying to get his name in the news.