Maine voters approve Medicaid expansion
A measure to expand Medicaid in Maine, which would give about 70,000 people health care coverage, was approved by voters Tuesday night, making the state the first in the nation to approve Medicaid expansion at the ballot box.
With more than 60 percent of Maine precincts reporting, the measure was favored by 59 percent of the voters.
Support for the measure appeared to be strongest along the coast and in southern Maine, but it also was backed by voters in parts of more conservative northern Maine. For instance, in Fort Kent on the Canadian border, the expansion was favored by 55 percent of the voters.
About 200 Medicaid expansion supporters gathered at Bayside Bowl in Portland Tuesday night, with the early mood festive.
Read more: http://www.centralmaine.com/2017/11/07/medicaid-expansion-getting-early-support-from-voters/
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"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 on how he can just ignore it. I guess it's just executive discretion. Or, elections have consequences, but some are more consequential than others, I guess.
