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Nixon still dodging questions on Obamacare

July 10, 2012

Across the country, Governors are announcing their plans on Obamacare in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision not to require states to expand Medicaid.  But here in Missouri, Jay Nixon continues dodging reporters’ questions about the issue.

According to the Kansas City Star’s Barb Shelly, “Jay Nixon zigged and zagged around another health care question” yesterday at a bill signing in Kansas City.  Instead of giving a straight-forward answer, Nixon stuck with his stale talking points and complained that the Supreme Court’s opinion is “complicated.”

“Around the nation, Governors are beginning to speak out about Obamacare’s unenforceable requirement that states expand Medicaid—but not Jay Nixon, a lawyer and former Attorney General.  He’s too busy complaining about how ‘complicated,’ the Supreme Court’s decision was,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party. “It’s time for Jay Nixon to finally show some leadership and explain to Missourians how he plans to deal with this budget-busting federal mandate.”

Background: Unlike Nixon, other governors speaking out on Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion

Arkansas
Arkansas News: Beebe inclined to expand Medicaid
Gov. Mike Beebe said today he is inclined to go ahead with the expansion of Medicaid proposed under the federal health care law.

Florida
Orlando Sentinel: Gov. Rick Scott: Florida won’t comply with health care law
Florida Gov. Rick Scott now says Florida will do nothing to comply with President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul and will not expand its Medicaid program.

Illinois
Quincy Journal: Gov. Quinn says Illinois going forward with expanding Medicaid
Gov. Pat Quinn said he plans to carry out the full Affordable Care Act, including expanding the Medicaid rolls.

Iowa
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier: Governor Branstad won’t push for Medicaid expansion
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Branstad said it would be “a big mistake” for the state to expand Medicaid coverage to an estimated 150,000 Iowans after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed states to choose if they want to expand services.

Louisiana
New Orleans Times-Picayune: Jindal takes stage in GOP initiative against health law
Gov. Bobby Jindal has taken a prominent role in the Republican Party’s response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the anchor provisions of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, using the opportunity to restate his refusal to expand Medicaid in Louisiana or establish private insurance exchanges.

Maryland
New York Times: How Much Would the Medicaid Expansion Cost Your State?
Some governors, like Martin O’Malley, Democrat of Maryland, have indicated they will say yes.

Mississippi
New York Times: Reluctance in Some States Over Medicaid Expansion
Another Republican governor, Phil Bryant of Mississippi, also cast doubt on the expansion, saying. “I would resist any expansion of Medicaid that could result in significant tax increases or dramatic cuts to education, public safety and job creation.”

Nebraska
CBS: Neb. governor vows to fight Medicaid expansion
Gov. Dave Heineman promised Thursday to block any effort to expand Nebraska’s Medicaid program, a key provision of the federal health care overhaul that the U.S. Supreme Court deemed optional for states while upholding most of the law.

Nevada
Nevada Appeal:  Nevada may opt out of expanded Medicaid benefits, Sandoval says
Gov. Brian Sandoval, a staunch opponent of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, said on Thursday that if the measure’s expanded Medicaid options are indeed optional, Nevada may not opt in.

South Carolina
Charleston Post & Courier: Haley administration ‘opts out’ of health care expansion
Gov. Nikki Haley’s administration has said the state will “opt out” of a provision of the health-care law that would bring more people into the Medicaid program.

Texas
El Paso Times: Governor Rick Perry rejects Medicaid expansion
Gov. Rick Perry told U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a letter that Texas had no intention of creating a state insurance exchange or expanding Medicaid in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Wisconsin
CBS: Wis. gov won’t implement health law despite ruling
Gov. Scott Walker pledged again Thursday not to phase in any parts of President Barack Obama’s signature health care reform law ahead of November’s elections even though the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it is constitutional.