Medicaid Expansion Passes State Senate Despite 0 Votes By Republicans
By: Alex de Leon
Updated: February 28, 2013
Springfield - In a lack of bipartisanship, the State Senate votes to expand Medicaid under the president's health plan.
Every democratic senator approved the measure while every republican voted "no." But, republicans are outnumbered 2:1 in the Senate. Under the plan, nearly 350,000 uninsured residents will be eligible for coverage starting next year, costing about $3 billion.
It'll be funded entirely by the federal government for the first three years. After that the state will pay 10%. "This bill goes too far and costs too much money at a time when the state can't pay its current bills" says State Senator Dave Syverson (R-35th). "After the federal money runs out, state taxpayers are on the hook for potentially billions of dollars."
The bill now heads to the house. Republicans have majority there, which could make passage extremely difficult.
Every democratic senator approved the measure while every republican voted "no." But, republicans are outnumbered 2:1 in the Senate. Under the plan, nearly 350,000 uninsured residents will be eligible for coverage starting next year, costing about $3 billion.
It'll be funded entirely by the federal government for the first three years. After that the state will pay 10%. "This bill goes too far and costs too much money at a time when the state can't pay its current bills" says State Senator Dave Syverson (R-35th). "After the federal money runs out, state taxpayers are on the hook for potentially billions of dollars."
The bill now heads to the house. Republicans have majority there, which could make passage extremely difficult.
Comments
Don't worry Senator, we should have plenty of money if Rep. Joe Sosnowski gets his way. He just co-sponsored a bill for a constitutional ammendment to eliminate the states obligations to pay pensions for retired workers. Whats next, requireing all retirees to pay income tax on their social security income. I'm sure Joe Sosnowski will come up with some politically way to gouge the money out of us. Stay tuned.
Paul G.
March 2, 2013 at 12:03 pm
