Louisiana’s New Dem Governor Expands Medicaid On First Full Day In Office

Louisiana Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards addresses supporters at his election night watch party in New Orleans, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. Edwards won the runoff election for Louisiana governor Saturday, defeating the onc... Louisiana Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards addresses supporters at his election night watch party in New Orleans, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. Edwards won the runoff election for Louisiana governor Saturday, defeating the once-heavy favorite, Republican David Vitter, and handing the Democrats their first statewide victory since 2008. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) MORE LESS
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Louisiana is now the latest state to participate in Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion, with Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) signing an executive order implementing the expansion Tuesday. The state is aiming for the program to be in effect by July 1, according to The Hill.

Edwards was sworn into office Monday, and Tuesday was his first full day in office.

Edwards defeated U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) in November to succeed Republican Bobby Jindal — an ardent Obamacare opponent — in the governor’s mansion. Edwards made expanding Medicaid a focal point of his campaign.

The move comes as other red states such as Alabama are warming up to Medicaid expansion and Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) recently backed down from his campaign promise to dismantle the Medicaid expansion there.

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  1. More please. Don’t stop there. While your balls are on the table, sir, please tell the Teatrolls to shine them: issue an executive order regarding gun safety (or something similarly likely to cause them to go nuts).

  2. I feel good for the people of Louisiana today— HOORAY ! ! — Hopefully more good days on the way ! –

  3. Red State America is wondering what this unfamiliar concept of helping poor, vulnerable people is? Maybe there’s something about it in that Bible they claim to love so much?

  4. This is great news. Thank you Governor!

  5. I wouldn’t expect anything like sanity on guns from this conservative Blue Dog Dem. But the Medicaid expansion alone puts his him waaaaay ahead of anything Jindal did for Louisiana in eight years of misrule.

    This is a great way for Democrats in deep blue states to show how they can govern in a way that differs from GOP disaster.

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