They may not like it – but a majority of the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee have voted to approve a plan to expand Medicaid – to cover uninsured North Dakotans.
It’s part of the federal Affordable Care Act – and at least for the next two years, the federal government will pick up the tab.
The committee vote was 7 to 6. Sen. Karen Krebsbach (R-Minot) hesitated for a moment, before voting “yes.”
"To me, it's something we're forced into doing at this time," Krebsbach said after the vote. "I know it's going to be a big problem down the road. But we cannot be throwing away money. And if it's a guarantee of 100 percent for two years, we had better take advantage of it."
Sen. Terry Wanzek (R-Jamestown) was one of the “no” votes in Senate Appropriations. He says the expansion idea raises a lot of questions.
"Anytime the federal government is handing you money, it makes me nervous," said Wanzek. "I hope it's not like the drug dealer giving me the first samples free, and getting us hooked on something we don't want to be a part of in the long run."
The Senate Human Services Committee endorsed the bill on a 6-1 vote.
The measure will likely be on the Senate floor next week.
