NAACP leader: Expand Medicaid in Alabama [The Anniston Star, Ala.]
By Tim Lockette, The Anniston Star, Ala. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
"The Affordable Care Act brings an opportunity for all Alabamians to have health care," said
Activists from
Both actions were originally requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. When the
Bentley rejected the expansion last year, saying in a press release that he couldn't expand the program "under its current structure." State officials are currently considering an overhaul of the program, which has taken up and increasingly large portion of the state General Fund, throwing the state a funding crisis last year.
Those who attended the Saturday rally said they were mystified by the governor's refusal to expand the program -- given that the federal government will foot the bill for the first three years of
"
Others at the rally seemed just as concerned about protecting the people who now depend on the
"There are so many people out there that couldn't survive without it," said
Floyd's 19-year-old grandson,
"It's very important to have these features," he said. "To those who can't afford care,
While Obamacare has taken a beating in the political discourse of this majority-Republican state, many at the rally said they thought the tide was turning in the program's direction. Some said the re-election of Obama showed that the nation as a whole wants the program. Others said the public would soon begin to see the logic of providing care to everybody -- and preventing bigger health care costs down the road.
"I'd like to know why we don't provide adult dental care already," said
Some of the rally's speakers urged rally-goers to return to their communities and talk up the issues in barber shops and churches. And some alluded to the relatively small size of the crowd.
"It's not done that way anymore," he said.
Still, Williams said, the results of the 2012 election showed that the nationwide public supports Obamacare.
"All you have to do is read the election results," he said.
The governor's
Capitol &
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