MARQUETTE, MI – (Great Lakes Radio News) – State Democrats are putting pressure on Republicans to cut short their summer vacations and come back to work.
Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer says she and her colleagues will be at the Capitol on July 3 and ready to vote on a Medicaid expansion. Now she’s urging those on the other side of the aisle to do the same.
The bill would put 400,000 low-income workers on Medicaid. This latest push comes after Governor Rick Snyder blasted lawmakers for going on vacation last week without taking a vote on the bill. Snyder says, if the legislation fails, the state will see emergency rooms flooded with “hardworking people” forced to use the ER as their health care system.
The GOP has been resistant to expanding the Medicaid program under the federal health care law. Hospitals, insurers, small businesses and the poor are pushing the Senate to act, while conservative groups are pressuring senators to stand firm.
Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville said Republicans need more time to study the measure.
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