Governors from Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah attended a roundtable discussion hosted by the Senate Finance Committee. Committee chairman Hatch said it was “paramount” to hear from governors on the issue, and most of the lawmakers leaving the meeting said they didn’t explain plans for reform, but rather spent the time listening to executives’ concerns.
Some GOP governors inherited the Medicaid expansion in their states when they took over from their Democratic predecessors, and some are supportive of block grants for the program. “GOP governors want to be given the reins and to innovate in the states,” said Jon Gilmore, a former deputy chief of staff to Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchison. “The appetite is for a repeal, but repeal and replace, and the hope they will listen to the governors.”
Kasich and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder have been among the most vocal in their concerns about repealing the Medicaid component of the health care law. The expanded programs in Ohio and Michigan insure 700,000 and 640,000, respectively.
Complicating the issue is the fact several of these governors represent states Trump won in November. Ohio and Michigan in particular played a key role in electing Trump. Neither governor endorsed him.
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