Politico.com
Ohio OKs Obamacare Medicaid expansion
By Kyle Cheney
10/21/13

An obscure Ohio board has approved Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion, but a likely legal fight by furious conservatives is looming.

The decision, 5-2, by the state Controlling Board to back expansion at the urging of Republican Gov. John Kasich would accept billions of federal dollars to extend coverage to an estimated 300,000 poor Ohioans. Kasich pursued a vote of the board after efforts to win over his Republican-led Legislature failed to gain traction.

“Together with the General Assembly, we’ve improved both the quality of care from Medicaid and its value for taxpayers. Today’s action takes another positive step in this mutual effort,” Kasich said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing our partnership with the General Assembly to build upon the progress we’ve already made to make Medicaid work better for Ohioans.”

Critics of expansion questioned the board’s legal authority to approve a major coverage expansion. Thirty-nine Republicans in the Ohio House — including Speaker William Batchelder — filed a protest letter Oct. 16 contending Kasich’s gambit “does not carry out the clear intent” of the Legislature.

“The Ohio Constitution grants legislative authority solely to the Ohio General Assembly, an authority which cannot be delegated,” the lawmakers wrote. “This request is thinly veiled legislation creating new eligibility levels and funding levels for Medicaid. … The controlling board request … is contrary to the Ohio Constitution and current statutory law.”

Backers of expansion told POLITICO they anticipate lawsuits challenging the board vote from Republican lawmakers and advocates of limited government.

For the rest of this article and more, go to Politico.com