The issue of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina has long been a battle between Democrats in favor of Medicaid expansion and Republicans opposed.
Since the Republicans have held the majority in the state legislature, Medicaid coverage has not been expanded.
However, the Republican-led state Senate passed a Medicaid expansion bill on Wednesday, June 1 by an overwhelming vote of 44-2, which redraws the battle lines for Medicaid expansion to Republicans in the Senate versus Republicans in the House.
President Pro Tem of the state Senate Sen. Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) is all in on Medicaid expansion. However, state House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) has said there is little support for Medicaid expansion in the House.
In 2019, the issue of Medicaid expansion prevented the state from passing a budget. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the budget passed by the legislature and said he would not sign a budget that didn’t include Medicaid expansion. The Republican-led legislature refused to include Medicaid expansion in the budget and, as a result, for an additional two years the state was run based on the 2017 budget plus some “mini-budget” bills that both sides agreed were needed.
In 2021, Cooper signed the state budget despite the fact that it did not include Medicaid expansion.
The turnabout by the Republicans in the state Senate has created a rift among conservatives in the state that goes beyond the state House.
Chief Executive Officer of the John Locke Foundation Amy Cooke is quoted in the Carolina Journal as saying, “For years, most state senators have rightfully recognized that Medicaid expansion is bad medicine for North Carolina. Their changed view is disappointing.”
Cooke added, “Data show that the D.C.-controlled health insurance scheme will leave North Carolinians with less health care access and higher tax burdens because it’s paid for through D.C. deficit spending adding to inflationary pressures and driving costs even higher.”
“I’m from the Government and I’m here to help.”
Fails every time.
Our Federal Government has placed us in 31st place in Education when compared to other developed countries. Now they want to cure our sick?
I agree with the Senate Republicans/Democrats. Time for North Carolina to get on board. Most States have Medicaid Expansion. Not everyone qualifies for Regular Medicaid, Medicare, or have employers insurance. You can even require work as a requirement. No more excuses.
Perhaps it is time for Mr. Berger to be returned to Rockingham County as a private citizen.
I’m wondering what data Cooke is talking about. How is it that North Carolinians would have less access to health care and not more after Medicaid expansion? How many North Carolinians will lose coverage … or gain some healthcare coverage that don’t have it now? How much more will average or median NC tax filer pay in increased state income tax as a result? What does Phil Berger have to say about Cooke’s claims? I’d been asking my Republican state senate and house reps for several years why they don’t pass Medicaid expansion and they never responded. I see that other states dominated by Republican legislators have expanded Medicaid. Why them and not us?
Those sound like the questions someone — an editor, perhaps? — should’ve asked before this “story” was published. But, of course, we know that the only editor Hammer has is Roy Carroll after Hammer sold his soul to get The Rinovirus Times out of bankruptcy yet again. I guess Roy’s in favor of Medicaid expansion if Hammer wrote about it.
Phil Berger changed has position on this for one reason, and one reason only. He needs to get re-elected and he needs democratic support to do that. It is well known that expansion is supported more by democrats than true republicans. It is well past time for Berger to be sent home and away from Raleigh.
U really don’t get why North Carolina insists on being the last to do anything it’s citizens ask for it’s like we vote for people who couldn’t care less about our wants and needs. We are the most tax burdened state in the nation but we get no reward for it. No medicare expansion, no legal or medical marijuana, no excellent schools, no public transportation, no social services no relevant family services and a bias ineffective court system nothing but a lot of paved roads .
Wow! You just ranted the most idiotic and easily disproveable statements someone could make.
1. Highest taxed state – WRONG
2. No excellent schools – WRONG
3. No Public Transportation – WRONG
4. No medical Marijuana – WRONG
5. No social services – WRONG
6. Biased, ineffective court system – WRONG
Even the most basic Google search would greatly expand your knowledge of NC…
The NC House needs to look at issues, facts, and individuals’ needs and not just giving a knee-jerk reaction to everything that involves $$. These $$ will be well spent. The 21st century is here. Join it NC House.
With a collapse of our economy, everyone will need free health care, if you can find it. It prob will happen sometime now or later. If the trend continues, all the stores will be cleaned out PDQ. $6 for a small loaf of wheat bread, LOwes Food store? I don’t think so.
Invest in some food & water, and survival skills. Whether you will need them or not.