Governor Bill Walker announced in a press conference earlier that he is disappointed with the legislative council’s decision to sue over Medicaid Expansion.
Legislative leaders voted early this afternoon to approve a $450,000 lawsuit against the governor.
Senator Kevin Meyer said that action was not to dispute Alaska’s need for Medicaid Expansion.
Sen. Meyer(R-Anchorage): “This is not a policy issue, we’re not discussing whether we should or should not expand Medicaid, whether it’s good or not good. This is purely a question of authority, of process, and of our constitution.”
Republican lawmakers stated the Governor forced their hand in the Medicaid expansion matters by introducing his bill on Medicaid expansion and reform too late in the session.
Representative Mike Chenault…
Rep. Chenault(R-Nikiski): “Government was never intended to be fast. Normally when legislation moves through quickly that’s where we find we have the most problems. As I stated earlier, there’s been times it’s taken years to pass a piece of legislation that was nowhere near as contentious as this is, but also with the implications that this could have not only on the citizens of Alaska but also on the state’s budget.”
Governor Walker said the expansion would have increased revenue into Alaska’s healthcare system by expanding the system to around 40,000 Alaskans.
The expansion is set to go into effect on September 1. The lawsuit could be filed as soon as Monday which would block that plan.