Republicans condemn Gov. Nixon's support of Medicaid expansion
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Republicans condemn Gov. Nixon's support of Medicaid expansion

Date: November 29, 2012
By: Matt Evans
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
After remaining mute on the issue through most of election season, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon is now speaking out on his support of expanding Medicaid in the state.
RunTime:  0:40
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Gov. Jay Nixon says he'll put plans to expand Medicaid in the state under President Obama's federal health care act in his proposed budget. 

 

Actuality:  NIXLAW.WAV
Run Time:  00:07
Description: "Congress passed it, the President signed it, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld it. It is the law of the land."

The federal government says they will foot the bill for the first three years of the expansion starting in 2014, but eventually the state will be left with 10 percent of the cost.

The Republicans who have strong control of the state's legislature that passes the budget have condemned the Governor's plans saying it will cost Missouri too much in the long run.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Matt Evans. Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: 
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon says he is going to put plans into place to expand Medicaid in Missouri under President Obama's federal health care law.
RunTime:  0:45
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Gov. Jay Nixon remained non-committal on the issue of Medicaid through election season, but he has now come out in full support of expanding the program.

Actuality:  NIXSMRT.WAV
Run Time:  00:04
Description: "It is the smart thing to do and it is the right thing to do"

But it won't be easy for the Democratic Governor who now faces a legislature with a Republican super-majority in his second term.

And Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder says there's little support for the expansion.

Actuality:  KINDLEG.WAV
Run Time:  00:08
Description: "Overwhelming majorities of the legislature are opposed to this and will not go along with a gigantic expansion of welfare."

The federal government has offered to foot most of the bill in the first several years, but Kinder says that's an empty promise.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Matt Evans. Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: 
Republicans are condemning Governor Jay Nixon's proposal to expand Medicaid under President Obama's federal health care law.
RunTime:  0:46
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Soon after Gov. Jay Nixon announced his support for expanding Medicaid in the state, several Republican leaders say they won't support the expansion.

Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder say there's little to no support of the expansion from the Republican controlled legislature.

Actuality:  KINDLEG2.WAV
Run Time:  00:10
Description: "I think those that do support it in the legislature are overwhelmingly outnumbered and that it will not come to a vote in either the House or the Senate."

Governor Nixon says expanding the program is the right thing to do and cites a University of Missouri study that predicts more than 24,000 jobs could be added to the Missouri economy in 2014.

Republicans say the program will cost the state too much in the long run.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Matt Evans. Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: 
After remaining non-committal on the issue of expanding Medicaid through election season, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon says he supports it and is putting plans into place to expand the program in Missouri.
RunTime:  0:46
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Gov. Jay Nixon says expanding Medicaid under President Obama's federal health care law is the right thing to do. He also cites a University of Missouri study that predicts the expansion could add more than 24,000 jobs to the state in 2014.

Federal government is offering to pay for the first three years of the program, but eventually leave the states with 10 percent of the costs.

Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder says that's an empty promise.

Actuality:  KINDFEDS.WAV
Run Time:  00:09
Description: "To say that the federal government is going to pay for this ought to be in quotation marks because it's a big fat lie."

Kinder says there's a zero percent chance of the Medicaid expansion passing through the Republican-controlled legislature.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Matt Evans. Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: 
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon says he will put in place measures to expand Medicaid in the state under President Obama's federal health care law. And that doesn't sit well with some Republicans.
RunTime:  0:41
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Gov. Jay Nixon estimates expanding the program will provide 300,000 more Missourians with health care coverage.

The federal government has offered to cover the cost for the first three years of the expansion, but Republicans say it'll cost the state more in the long run.

And Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder gives the expansion no chance.

Actuality:  KINDER11.WAV
Run Time:  00:17
Description: "Reporter: So you think there is a zero percent chance of this actually happening?" Kinder: "I do, but I'm delighted the Governor has finally taken a position and has teed up this issue and we can say game on. I await his budget and his State of the State proposal."

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Matt Evans. Newsradio 1120 KMOX.