Oversight Dem asks Rick Perry for Medicaid files

The ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee is seeking documents from Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) about his decision to refuse the Medicaid expansion under ObamaCare.

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) wrote to Perry, a possible presidential contender in 2016, and two other Republican governors requesting information about their rejection of expanded healthcare coverage for the poor.

{mosads}“In contrast to your Republican colleagues, you have strongly opposed expanding Medicaid for the constituents of your state, stating: ‘It’s like putting 1,000 more people on the Titanic when you knew what was going to happen,’” Cummings wrote.

Cummings asked Perry, Florida Gov. Rick Scott and North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory to provide copies of any studies or reports that were compiled to help them make a decision on the Medicaid expansion.

“In order to better understand the basis for your opposition, I request that you provide by August 22, 2014, copies of any state-specific analyses, studies, or reports that you ordered, requested or relied on to inform your decision,” writes Cummings.

Cummings also want to know how much funding the governors would turn down over the next 10 years,  the cost of covering people who wouldn’t be eligible for Medicaid, jobs that may have been gained under Medicaid expansion and the number of people who would miss out on coverage added coverage.

Under the Affordable Care Act, states that expand Medicaid will initially be eligible for full funding from the federal government to cover the new enrollees.

However, by 2020 the federal government will reduce its funding to 90 percent, which some states have said will put too much of a financial burden on them.

Democrats have seized on the Medicaid expansion to go on offense over ObamaCare in the midterm elections and help vulnerable incumbents in red-leaning states like North Carolina.

Cummings also wrote to three Republican governors who have expanded Medicaid in their states including Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J), another potential 2016 contender.

“Democratic governors have consistently supported expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, but Republican governors have disagreed among themselves, with widely differing explanations,” Cummings wrote.