Sherman warns the fate of Medicaid expansion is on the ballot [The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester]

Oct. 24—During their third debate Monday, Democratic challenger Tom Sherman said the expansion of Medicaid for 50,000 low-income adults will end next year if voters reelect Gov. Chris Sununu and Republicans hold onto majorities in the Legislature.

Sununu called the prediction "boogeyman" politics at its worst, noting a GOP-controlled Legislature extended the program in 2018.

If he wins a fourth term as governor, Sununu said, he would seek reforms to make Medicaid benefit management more efficient.

Sununu and Sherman also differed over energy, mental health and state budget priorities during the one-hour exchange before the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College.

Sherman said Sununu caved in to Republican extremists and will not be able to convince lawmakers to renew expansion of Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program for low-income, disabled and some senior residents.

"This is a Legislature that has put in place the first abortion ban that the governor signed," Sherman said.

"Number one, it can happen, and number two, the governor has already shown he can't lead his own party when it came to $27 million in vaccine grants, and he only had to control four councilors to do that."

Sununu said voters won't buy Sherman's scare tactics.

The Legislature last spring passed a new dental benefit under Medicaid, a cause pursued at the State House for nearly two decades, Sununu said.

"It's nonsense. Nobody is talking about getting rid of Medicaid expansion," Sununu said.

The governor agreed with departing Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette that the state should consider changing administration of Medicaid, which since 2013 has operated under a managed-care model.

"We have a managed Medicaid system. I think it has a lot of problems" with efficiencies, Sununu said.

On energy

Sununu said Sherman supports accelerated use of more renewable energy, as California has pursued, which he said will cause already expensive electric rates to go higher.

"If that is what you want, then I am telling you vote for Tom Sherman and you will get that — an unstable, unreliable, more expensive system," Sununu said.

Sherman said Sununu is the one trying to scare voters, adding that he supports modest changes to let more individuals and small businesses generate their own power.

"No one is talking about going entirely to renewables. Our percentage is .78%, Massachusetts is 20%. We are so far behind the curve that we don't even fit on the graph," Sherman said.

Sununu fired back, "So why are Massachusetts (electric) prices higher?"

On mental health care

Sherman said Sununu's failure to support a more robust mental health care system is why a few dozen children and adults every day wait in hospital emergency rooms for a treatment bed.

"It is still going on today, and he has no plan in place," Sherman said.

Sununu said he was the first governor in 25 years to get that emergency room waiting list down to zero, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and put more mental health strains on the system.

"When I first took office the number was about in the 90s, we got it to a dozen and then to zero in a few years," Sununu said. "Now, it is about 25 people right now, and the amount of time they remain on the list is down to about a third" as long.

On taxes and education

Sununu said the next governor will need to manage through a recession he expects to last through 2024 and pointed to the record near-$400 million state budget surplus for the year ending last June 30.

"Money is not the problem. It is making sure we allocate these programs wisely," Sununu said.

Sherman said Sununu last year refused to support more property tax relief for cities and towns but insisted on another round of business tax cuts that went mostly to out-of-state multinational companies.

"Not only did they net cut education by $50 million, they tucked in an abortion ban and put in place a voucher plan that's now $10 million over budget," Sherman said.

"That's not something to be proud of, that's something to vote against, and I did," he said.

Sununu said the Education Freedom Accounts have been popular for lower income families that can't afford private school tuitions.

"Private school isn't just for the rich households in New Hampshire anymore," Sununu said.

"Tom has means, I have means, but not everybody does," he said.

Sherman pointed out 85% of families getting this new subsidy already were not sending their children to public schools.

The two will debate Wednesday night at New England College, at an event co-sponsored by iHeart Radio and the New Hampshire Union Leader. The 6 p.m. debate also will air live on C-SPAN.

klandrigan@unionleader.com

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