The Latest: Kansas governor critical of Medicaid expansion

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the debate in Kansas over expanding its Medicaid program (all times local):

4:45 p.m.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has stopped short of saying that he would veto a bill to expand the Medicaid program in Kansas.

But Brownback spokeswoman Melika Willoughby said Monday in an email that that it would be irresponsible to "expand ObamaCare when the program is in a death spiral."

The 2010 overhaul of the U.S. health care system championed by former President Barack Obama encouraged states to expand their Medicaid programs by promising to pay most of the cost.

The Senate was debating a measure that would expand Medicaid to as many as 180,000 additional poor adults.

Brownback said in a letter with other GOP governors to congressional leaders last week that expanding Medicaid under Obama's policies moved the program away from its "core mission" of helping the truly vulnerable.

3:50 p.m.

Legislators and advocates in Kansas pushing to expand the state's health coverage for the poor and disabled to thousands of adults are buoyed by events in Washington.

They see it as a plus that Republicans in Congress have failed to repeal former President Barack Obama's signature health care law.

The GOP-controlled Kansas Legislature already was more receptive this year to expanding the state's Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act. The state Senate was debating a bill Monday and could send it to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback later this week.

Critics of expanding Medicaid in Kansas have pointed to uncertainty about how Congress might overhaul the U.S. health care system.

Other states pursuing Medicaid expansions under the 2010 U.S. law include Maine, North Carolina and Virginia.