RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Latest on an initial step by North Carolina legislators to expand Medicaid coverage in the state (all times local):
5:40 p.m.
North Carolina Republicans who seemed to be suddenly advancing legislation expanding Medicaid coverage to more working families now say a deal depends on enough Democrats turning their backs on the state’s Democratic governor and backing a GOP budget.
The Republican-run state House on Tuesday initially scheduled and later scratched a vote to expand the government-backed health coverage being debated after nearly a decade of state GOP opposition. The measure which sponsors said would cover hundreds of thousands of low-income adults passed a committee earlier Tuesday with bipartisan support.
State House Speaker Tim Moore says a Medicaid expansion vote now is on hold until the House overrides Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the GOP-designed, $24 billion state budget.
Cooper’s veto was based in part because lawmakers didn’t include Medicaid expansion.
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2:55 p.m.
North Carolina Republicans are suddenly pushing ahead with legislation expanding Medicaid coverage to more working families under a plan that its chief sponsor says adds no costs for state or county taxpayers.
Legislative leaders scheduled a vote in the Republican-run state House Tuesday on legislation expanding the government-backed health coverage after nearly a decade of state GOP opposition. The measure that sponsors said would cover hundreds of thousands of low-income adults passed a committee earlier Tuesday with bipartisan support.
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper wants Medicaid expansion and vetoed the state budget plan because Republicans didn’t include it. Senate leader Phil Berger says he won’t negotiate with Cooper over the budget unless the governor drops his demand.
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11:40 a.m.
North Carolina Republicans are taking an initial step toward expanding Medicaid coverage to more working families under a plan that its chief sponsor says adds no costs for state or county taxpayers.
Bi-partisan approval of the legislation Tuesday in the House Health Committee is the first step toward expanding the government-backed health coverage after nearly a decade of state GOP opposition. The bill faces a lengthy path in the House and opposition from Senate Republicans.
House Republican sponsors say the Medicaid legislation would cover hundreds of thousands of low-income adults.
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper wants Medicaid expansion and vetoed the state budget plan because Republicans didn’t include it. Senate leader Phil Berger says he won’t negotiate with Cooper over the budget unless the governor drops his demand.
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