AUGUST 28, 2015  

Big news! Judge Pfiffner says Medicaid
expansion can go ahead September 1

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Last week my Republican colleagues voted to sue Governor Walker for his decision to move forward with Medicaid expansion. I did not support moving forward with a lawsuit because a majority of Alaskans support Medicaid expansion, because Medicaid expansion will save the state hundreds of millions of dollars, because Republican leadership refused to hear expansion and reform bills during the special sessions, and because at a time when we are cutting essential state services we don’t need to waste money on a costly lawsuit suing ourselves.

This case was expedited because the Republican leadership wanted to prevent expansion from beginning on September 1. Today, Judge Pfiffner ruled in favor of expansion so on September 1st thousands of hard-working Alaskans will have access to healthcare that has been out of reach for far too long. People will be healthier and our economy will grow with the new jobs that come with the investment in healthcare. What a great thing at a time when economists say our state is experiencing an economic recession. Also, we need a healthy workforce to build our economy and access to healthcare will help employees work hard and stay healthy, necessary for our economy to thrive.

While I’m pleased with the outcome I am very upset about the process. There were dozens of hearings on Medicaid expansion and thousands of Alaskans spoke out in support. We work for the people and the legislature should have listened. Many of us did and have supported legislation to expand Medicaid for two years.

As a member of the House Health and Social Services Committee, we took hours and hours of public testimony on expansion legislation that also included strategic reforms that would have allowed the state to save even more money. Republican leadership wouldn’t let that bill move forward. Then, Republican leadership said we didn’t have enough time to fully consider the legislation. So, Governor Walker placed this legislation on a special session call and the Republican leadership refused to even have hearings. When they called their own special session they didn’t include Medicaid.

At every turn the Republican leadership has blocked hearings, has refused to hear testimony from Alaskans, and has ignored the over 100 groups, groups ranging from the Alaska Chamber of Commerce to the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association that represent tens of thousands of Alaskans in publicly supporting Medicaid expansion. We should have voted on a bill during session. The people deserved a vote.

I hope now we can move forward in working to make sure our Medicaid program meets the needs of Alaskans.

P.S. You can attend a Medicaid expansion celebration event tomorrow in our area at St. Anthony’s Church. Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Representative Geran Tarr