a:3:{s:16:"field_story_body";a:1:{i:0;a:2:{s:5:"value";s:3022:"<div class="rtecenter"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">The &ldquo;Medicaid Expansion&rdquo; Battle Isn&rsquo;t Over!</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);"><em><strong><span style="font-size: larger;">(The following comments may not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Clinton County Republican Party) </span></strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: larger;">Governor Snyder experienced a major setback on Thursday regarding Medicaid Expansion in the Michigan Senate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: larger;">Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville,&nbsp; acknowledged the bill would have passed if a vote had been taken with the minimum 20 votes, with 12 Democrats and eight Republicans voting for passage. However, he said he was reluctant to hold a vote without the support of half or 13 of the chamber&rsquo;s 26 Republicans. He also said the bill isn&rsquo;t dead and it would be reviewed over the summer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: larger;">Tea party activists have threatened to field primary challengers against Republican senators who vote to expand Medicaid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: larger;">Flanked by leaders of state medical and business associations, Governor Snyder said passage of the legislation&nbsp; was vital to get federal approval of proposed changes to the state Medicaid program before a nationwide expansion begins this fall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: larger;">About 26 states are planning to expand Medicaid of which most have Democratic governors. While most Republican governors oppose Medicaid expansion, Snyder is among more than a half-dozen GOP governors who back expansion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: larger;">State Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton, who opposed the Medicaid expansion, said the Michigan Legislature should &ldquo;push back&rdquo; against the Affordable Care Act mandates and direct individuals to private insurers through the health insurance exchanges that will be set up under the federal law.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: larger;">The bottom line is that the war will continue with the Governor&rsquo;s &ldquo;relentless, positive action!&rdquo;</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: larger;">It just makes you wonder where the Governor&rsquo;s affiliations really are and what his &ldquo;conservative credentials&rdquo; are?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: larger;">On this issue the people played a significant part in stopping a bill that should not see the light of day in Michigan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: larger;">The &ldquo;people have a voice&rdquo; if they choose to make it heard and they can impact decisions that are made in Lansing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: larger;">Steve Willis, Chairman</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Clinton County Republicn Party</span>";s:6:"format";s:1:"2";}}s:17:"field_story_image";a:1:{i:0;N;}s:12:"field_weight";a:1:{i:0;a:1:{s:5:"value";s:2:"19";}}}