Ohio Gov. Is Fifth Republican To Back Medicaid Expansion

Other governors are expected to reveal their stances within the coming months.

Governor John Kasich of Ohio, a Republican, says he is not a supporter of “Obamacare” but believes the Medicaid expansion makes sense for Ohio. He specifically singled out the working poor, saying the change would provide coverage for them—collectively covering about 366,000 more Ohioans.

He made his announcement as part of a press briefing on his $63.3 billion 2014-2015 budget proposal in the state capital of Columbus on Monday. Kasich joins more than 20 other U.S. governors, including four Republicans, supporting Medicaid expansion. Five Republicans oppose it and 13 Republicans and two Democrats remain undecided. This year should be a big deciding year on how the Healthcare law discussion will affect the country as governors propose new budgets for the fiscal year beginning July 1. (Reuters)

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