Standoff over Medicaid and budget drags on. For the uninsured, there’s a lot at stake.
Hayes-Singleton, 36, of
Hayes-Singleton said she can't afford a
"Make it accessible to us, that's all I'm asking," she told Gov.
Cooper has been holding discussions with North Carolinians who would benefit from Medicaid expansion, which the state has not approved. The governor, a Democrat, has been putting pressure on
Budget standoff
Berger said it doesn't make sense to hold up a
The fiscal year started
Berger's response to a question on what he thought of the House compromise bill was: "A rose by any other name would smell the same."
Cooper said Wednesday it's the Republican leadership, not rank-and-file members, who are holding up negotiations.
Senate Majority Leader
"A
"Regarding the cop-out line that Medicaid expansion 'has to be part of the conversation' -- it is.
Cooper said the House compromise that includes a work requirement can be a problem for people who had been working but then have an illness that prevents them from working. As far as premiums, he said that "we're talking about people who are living on the edge already anyway."
Even so, Cooper said that's on the table.
"There are arguments against those things, but my point is I'm willing to discuss all of them and put them on the table about how we go forward," Cooper said.
The governor said the expansion is not the creation of a new program or new state tax dollars out of the budget. However, he still wants it to be part of the budget conversation, not a separate session as has been proposed.
"[
"Why is that off the table in budget negotiations? That's not right. ... We're talking about billions of dollars coming down; the budget is the place where this needs to be debated and decided. So we're hoping over the next few weeks that they will finally give up with veto override and come to the negotiating table and talk about these issues," he said.
Cooper said he also wants to negotiate over teacher pay and school construction.
Medicaid coverage gap
People who make too much to qualify for existing Medicaid, but too little to be eligible for federal subsidies for private insurance.
Pierce, a single mother, is director of the nonprofit Southern Alamance Family Empowerment, a food pantry. She said Medicaid expansion would change her daily life by allowing her to get the medication she needs and go to the doctor when she needs to. Pierce has diabetes and high blood pressure.
"I'm not asking for a hand out," she said. "I'm just asking for help."
"I feel if we say yes to this Medicaid [expansion] it will help a lot of people, a lot of families," he said.
Her husband's job at
"I struggle every day," Radford said. She said they can't afford the
Radford said she doesn't know what she'll do if Medicaid expansion doesn't happen and said she is "everything" to her children.
Pierce, the nonprofit leader in
"It's just not a black and white issue," Pierce said.
House vote
Rep.
Rep.
Neither the House bill nor the veto override were called up for a vote during the House session Wednesday, which was its last voting session this week.
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