Morgan says Medicaid expansion would help Georgia (with VIDEO)

Oct. 21--Michael Morgan says he decided to run for elected office for the first time this year because of his son Matthew.

"Matthew is autistic," he said. "He came into this world with some disadvantages. I want a level playing field for Matthew. I want to give him the world that all of our children deserve."

Morgan, a Democrat, is challenging Republican incumbent Chuck Payne of Dalton in the Nov. 6 contest for the District 54 seat in the state Senate. District 54 includes all of Whitfield and Murray counties and parts of Gordon and Pickens counties.

Born and raised in Murray County and now a resident of Whitfield County, Morgan graduated from Berry College with a degree in history and German with minors in secondary education and psychology.

After graduating from college, Morgan worked in the carpet industry for several years. He is now a lab manager for Wacker, a German company with facilities in Tennessee that makes raw materials for solar panels and microchips.

Morgan said Georgia should expand Medicaid coverage to all adults under 65 earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Currently, Georgia limits Medicaid coverage only to people who meet certain criteria, such as parents of minor children or pregnant women.

The left-leaning Georgia Budget and Policy Institute estimates some 473,000 Georgians would gain health insurance under the expansion. The federal government would cover 90 percent of the cost of the expansion.

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