President Barack Obama on Thursday commended Republican govenors, like Arizona’s Jan Brewer, for “doing the right thing” and accepting the Medicaid expansion provision under the Affordable Care Act.
Obama contrasted the likes of Brewer, Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R), Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R) with Republicans who he said are trying to sabotage the 2010 health care law.
“Some of them have actually tried to harm the law before it it takes effect, but a lot of republican governors are putting politics aside and doing the right thing. And they deserve congratulations for that,” Obama said during a speech in Largo, Md. “It wasn’t easy for them, but you know, you’ve got conservative governors in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania and Arizona, about eight Republican governors in all, they’ve decided to expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act to cover more people in their states. And millions of Americans without insurance will get coverage through these programs.”
Brewer pushed hard for the Medicaid expansion in her state, overcoming pushback from some conservatives and persuading the GOP-controlled legislature to ultimately sign off on the measure in June.
