RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s new Democratic governor has formally started his effort to expand Medicaid to more of the working poor in the state, even as Republicans in Washington bear down on repealing the federal health care law that offers this increased coverage.
Gov. Roy Cooper’s office said he sent a letter to federal regulators Friday. He had announced earlier this week his intentions, which run against the rising tide on Capitol Hill to get rid of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.
Cooper’s office says a 2013 state law preventing him from seeking expanded coverage without the legislature’s formal support doesn’t apply to his draft plan. Republican leaders of the General Assembly have asked the federal agency overseeing Medicaid to reject Cooper’s request.
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But he’s a Democrat! I don’t think he’s permitted to do anything. When a Democrat is governor, the post is to be considered ceremonial.
Good for him. Shows the contrast.
Now, all he has to do is make sure that the hoipolloi understand what that extension means to them, so they can put pressure on their local goopers. Hope there will be a significant ad campaign.
That’ll be the awkward part for GOPers fighting the governor on this. If they can keep the issue in the frame of “law-breaking liberal”, they might be okay. But Medicaid expansion will benefit the deep red constituents the most, and once they start getting their money they won’t want it to end - even if they still vote for the GOP state rep/senator.
Go ahead and govern in the manner you need too, Governor Cooper!
Let the NC GoP kiss you where the sun does not shine!
Any chance we could get some background information about what he is planning and if it’s supported? I hope it is, but I saw Terry McAuliff try so hard to move against the GOP legislature to no avail.
I sooooo hope he gets it done!