Thursday, January 17, 2013
7:16 PM
Kind calls on Walker to take Medicaid expansion
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind today asked Gov. Scott Walker to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid in the state, arguing that three fellow GOP governors in western states have already agreed to the expansion through federal health care reform.
“Governor Walker has the opportunity expand BadgerCare in our state and ensure affordable coverage for low-income children, the disabled, and all Medicaid recipients and still save the state money over the next ten years," Kind, D-La Crosse, said in a statement. "It’s time to rise above the politics, as other Republican governors have, and provide the people of Wisconsin access to quality health care.”
Kind noted that Jan Brewer or Arizona, Susana Martinez of New Mexico and Brian Sandoval of Nevada had accepted the expansion.
The Walker administration's health secretary has said the governor would announce his decision when he releases his state budget proposal in February. But Dennis Smith also told a congressional panel last month the expansion could be a financial burden for the state going forward.
DC Wrap site feed