Kansas Lawmakers Fail To Override Veto Of Medicaid Expansion

In this Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016 photo,Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the legislature in Topeka, Kan. Repeated misses in Kansas' monthly revenue projections has ... In this Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016 photo,Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the legislature in Topeka, Kan. Repeated misses in Kansas' monthly revenue projections has clouded the state's ability to balance budgets, and some lawmakers are thinking the process could use reform. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) MORE LESS
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators have sustained Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s veto of a bill that would have expanded the state’s Medicaid program.

The House voted 81-44 Monday to override the veto shortly after the conservative governor announced it. Backers of the measure fell three votes short of the two-thirds majority necessary to overturn a veto.

The bill would have extended the state’s health coverage for the poor, disabled and elderly under former President Barack Obama’s health care law to cover up to 180,000 more adults.

Brownback is a critic of the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

He argued in his veto message that expanding Medicaid would burden the state with what he called “unrestrainable” costs. Supporters said it would be a net plus for the state.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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