Alaska legislature sues Gov. Walker over Medicaid expansion decision
Alaska's legislature is suing Gov. Bill Walker, an independent, over his decision to expand the state's Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act, reports The Hill. Last month, Walker announced plans to apply directly to the Obama administration in order to expand the program, a move the state's legislature is now calling an unconstitutional violation of separation of powers. And while Republican Senate President Kevin Meyer says the issue is not policy-related but rather a question of authority and process of the constitution, Walker is standing by his decision and proclaims that the legislature wants to deny working Alaskans healthcare coverage. The issue stems from the Supreme Court's ruling back in 2012 that the federal government could not take away Medicaid dollars if a state did not expand the program. Walker's administration says the ruling changed only the enforcement mechanism. Article
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