Maine’s Republican Governor defiantly said Wednesday he will Not Expand the State’s Medicaid system under ObamaCare despite it being overwhelming Approved by Voters through a Ballot Measure.
Gov. Paul LePage, who has Vetoed Five Measures to Expand the Health Care Program and Campaigned against the Initiative, said he wouldn’t allow it to Proceed until it is “Fully Funded by the Legislature.”
“Credit agencies are predicting that this fiscally irresponsible Medicaid expansion will be ruinous to Maine’s budget,” LePage said in a Statement. “Therefore, my administration will not implement Medicaid expansion until it has been fully funded by the Legislature at the levels DHHS has calculated, and I will not support increasing taxes on Maine families, raiding the rainy day fund or reducing services to our elderly or disabled.”
Nearly 60% of Maine Voters Approved the Measure in Tuesday’s Election. With the Vote, Maine is expected to join 31 other States that have Expanded the Health Care Program that serves Low-Income People.
But LePage said it will deal a devastating Financial Blow and recalled what happened when it was expanded in 2002 under then-Gov. Angus King. “It created a $750 million debt to hospitals, resulted in massive budget shortfalls every year, did not reduce emergency room use, did not reduce the number of uninsured Mainers and took resources away from our most vulnerable residents — the elderly and the intellectually and physically disabled,” LePage said.
Under ObamaCare, the Federal Government initially pays 100% of the Cost of Expansion, but that share is reduced to 90% by 2020. About 70,000 Maine Residents would be Eligible for the Program if State Officials certify the Election Results.
The State Legislature’s Office of Fiscal and Program Review predicted Expanding Medicaid would cost the State $55 Million in Fiscal Year 2021.
So the question is how the State will generate the $55 Million?
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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