What's the situation with LePage and the Maine Medicaid expansion referendum?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

Is such a referendum binding?

If so, is the governor able to veto? Is that what he's doing?

If not, what is it, just a tantrum?

[progree]

1. Kick

LePage said he will not implement the expansion until it is fully funded by the Maine legislature.

"Credit agencies are predicting that this fiscally irresponsible Medicaid expansion will be ruinous to Maine's budget," LePage said in a statement. "I will not support increasing taxes on Maine families, raiding the rainy day fund or reducing services to our elderly or disabled."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/maine-governor-not-expand-medicaid-ignoring-voters-181918389.html

There was no explanation in this Reuters article. I guess it's just executive discretion. Or, elections have consequences, but some are more consequential than others, I guess.

[jpak]

2. It will become law 45 days after the legislature begins its session next year.

He can't do no nothin' about it.

Fuck him.

yup

[progree]

3. The Legislature

Last edited Thu Nov 9, 2017, 01:22 AM - Edit history (1)

But voter approval may not be enough. Though a legislative budget analysis office estimates Medicaid expansion would bring about $500 million in federal funding to Maine each year, it would also cost the state about $50 million a year.

The fate of the Medicaid expansion will now be in the hands of the Legislature, where lawmakers can change it like any other bill. Four ballot initiatives passed by Maine voters last year have been delayed, altered or overturned.

But state Democratic leaders pledge to implement the measure. "Any attempts to illegally delay or subvert the law ... will be fought with every recourse at our disposal," Speaker of the House Sara Gideon said. "Mainers demanded affordable access to health care yesterday, and that is exactly what we intend to deliver."

-- NPR News https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/11/08/562758848/after-maine-voters-approve-medicaid-expansion-governor-raises-objections

[progree]

4. More Legislature

... House Minority Leader Fredette said there could only be an expansion of Medicaid if it came without imposing new taxes or drawing down surplus revenues. ... "I do not believe House Republicans will support any tax increase or the raiding of the rainy day fund to pay for an ever-expanding state government due to the out of control referendum process.” (( The Maine Legislature is split between a red Senate (by a margin of 1) and a blue House (by a margin of 5) ))

... When the Legislature convenes in January, it will have to take procedural steps to make Medicaid expansion fit within existing state statutes, as well as provide funding for it. Lawmakers could do that through standalone legislation or as part of a broader supplemental budget bill that adjusts state spending in response to changing revenues.

... LePage, who has vetoed Medicaid expansion legislation five times, offered no details Wednesday on what steps he might take to hinder expansion. He could direct the state Department of Health and Human Services to delay the rulemaking that will be needed to implement the fine print in the ballot measure. But such a move likely would spark a battle in the Legislature, which is split, with Democrats controlling the House of Representatives and Republicans the Senate.

Robyn Merrill, executive director of Maine Equal Justice Partners, a nonprofit advocacy group that launched the referendum effort, noted that, by law, the ballot measure becomes law within 45 days after the Legislature convenes early next year, and then the administration has 180 days to implement expansion.

“If they fail to do that, there would be legal recourses,” Merrill said, adding that her organization could go to court to force the law’s implementation". ... He pointed out that nothing in the ACA itself mandates implementation in a certain time frame

-- Portland Press Herald - http://www.pressherald.com/2017/11/08/lepage-says-he-wont-expand-medicaid-in-maine-unless-legislature-funds-it/

There's quite a bit more at the link