Ohio’s Gov. Kasich takes heat from conservatives for growing Medicaid

Ohio’s Republican governor, John Kasich, is taking heat from fellow party members for announcing Monday he will take federal money to expand Medicaid.

“It’s definitely going to weaken him with the conservative base,” said Chris Littleton, state director of American Majority Action, in a Newsmax report. “It’s not a good idea to expand your No. 1 budget item in the middle of this kind of instability. The conservative grass-roots and average voters are not going to support this in any way, shape or form.”

Mr. Kasich has a background of strong conservative principle, steeping in limited government platforms. His announcement comes somewhat as a surprise to fellow conservatives and as an outrage to tea party activists, Newsmax reported.

“How can the be good for Ohio to have more people dependent on government? I just don’t see it,” said Ted Stevenot, president of the Ohio Liberty Coalition, in the Newsmax report.

Five Republican governors have so far agreed to support the Medicaid expansion, Newsmax said.