Legislator optimistic for Medicaid expansion

Feb. 05--North Carolina is among 14 states that have yet to expand Medicaid coverage. But last week, Democrats in both the state Senate and House unveiled identical bills at the start of the new legislative session in hopes of changing that.

Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield, a primary sponsor of House Bill 5, said she is optimistic that by reaching across the aisle, Medicaid expansion can be accomplished.

"Hopefully, we can come up with a win, win situation," said Farmer-Butterfield, D-Wilson, who is serving her ninth term in office. She said Medicaid expansion would cover more than 500,000 residents in North Carolina and would include more than 3,200 residents in Wilson County.

"That's a lot people in Wilson County alone," Farmer-Butterfield said. Sen. Milton F. "Toby" Fitch Jr. is also a sponsor of the Senate version of the expansion bill. Fitch, a Democrat, represents Wilson, Edgecombe and Halifax counties.

Across the country, 37 states, including the District of Columbia. have already expanded Medicaid.

"And it's working in red and blue states," she said. "We can do it in North Carolina."

She said in some states that have passed Medicaid expansion, health insurance premiums are lower for those who do pay health insurance.

"Helping people who don't have insurance will help those who do," she said.

She added that 90 percent of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina would be funded by the federal government while the remaining percentage would come from health care providers.

"There would be no increase in tax dollars involved," she said.*

Farmer-Butterfield also contended that the expansion would create more than 40,000 jobs statewide and more than 300 jobs in Wilson County by 2020.

"It's an economic stimulus to the whole state's economy," she said. "That's why we need it."

LEGISLATIVE SESSION PRIORITIES

In addition to Medicaid expansion, Farmer-Butterfield has a list of priorities for the new legislative session, including expanding early childhood education programs to eliminate waiting lists. She said it's vital for children to have access to early education.

"If you invest in pre-kindergarten now, it saves us money down the line," she said. Research shows that children do better in school when they have access to early education, she added.

Farmer-Butterfield also plans to focus on raising teacher pay, including veteran teachers as well as principals, to the national average. Other priorities include "equal pay for equal work" and "earn while you learn" as well as apprenticeships at community colleges.

"Every student needs the resources to get the best job they can," she said. She also wants to help farmers in rural communities including Wilson, by expanding rural broadband services.

Other priorities include:

--Raising the minimum wage

--Looking into updating child support guidelines (a suggestion from a Wilson County student in Wilson County who expressed concern during a listen and learn event held during the election cycle)

--Putting pressure on lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to permanently end government shutdowns. She said it halts farmers assistance and disaster assistance in North Carolina.

--Taking a fresh look into whether the current anti-bullying bill needs to be strengthened to ensure policies and procedures that are currently in place are being enforced

--School bond issue for construction and supplies and other needed items for public schools

'MOVING NORTH CAROLINA FORWARD IN 2019'

Farmer-Butterfield will also hold a Wilson County legislative information exchange session on Saturday, Feb. 16, from 10 a.m. to noon for residents at the Wilson County Public Library's Assembly Room.

Topics will include legislative priorities and public policy for 2019. Farmer-Butterfield said the meeting is also to recruit members for the 2019 Wilson County Citizens Legislative Advisory Council. The council will prioritize legislative items raised by residents during listen and learn sessions she held during her re-election campaign.

"I would like for people to come out and talk to me," she said, adding that she needs people on the committee to volunteer their expertise.

"Let's make each other accountable for what's happening in our district," she said.

The meeting is free and open to the public. Register by Feb. 14 online at www.eventbrite.com/e/legislative-invitation-tickets-55288264688 or call 919-733-5898 to reserve a seat.

* = CORRECTION, Feb. 5 -- A previous version of this story omitted words from the quotation. The headline published in Tuesday's print edition erroneously listed Medicaid as Medicare.

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