Sam Hall (D-Clarion Ledger) – Looking Forward, Democrats On Better Footing In Medicaid Expansion
As might have been expected, talk turned to Medicaid during the Stennis Institute/Capitol Press Corp luncheon featuring Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson, and Rep. Andy Gipson, R-Magee.
While no new ground was broken, the dichotomy between the positions held by the two lawmakers makes clear that Democrats are in a much more enviable position — at least for right now.
Blount believes lawmakers should have options when it comes to debating the reauthorization and funding of Medicaid. In the Senate, where he voted for a Medicaid reauthorization bill that didn’t expand the program but did include the code section that would be necessary to amend the bill for expansion, there was little debate needed. Lawmakers there in a strong bipartisan showing simply reauthorized the program and moved forward with no fuss.
Clarion Ledger
4/8/13