Advocates push Medicaid expansion, but Laura Kelly says Kansas Republicans won't negotiate

Advocates for Medicaid expansion in Kansas rallied Wednesday at the Statehouse, even as prospects appear dim that any such legislation will pass this year.

As she vowed during her reelection campaign, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly introduced Medicaid expansion legislation for the fifth year in a row. But Republican legislative leadership remains adamantly opposed, and Kelly's proposal hasn't receive a hearing.

"A select few in the Legislature continue to block expansion, going against the wants and needs of their own constituents," Kelly said.

Public opinion polling last fall by Fort Hays State University found a majority of Kansans — 72% — support Medicaid expansion, which advocates say would provide more people with health care while supporting medical providers, particularly rural hospitals.

"There is support for it across the aisle in the state Legislature, too," Kelly said. "We just have to make sure legislative leadership gets the message and gets the bill onto the floor for debate. Like me, I know many of you in this room have been fighting for Medicaid expansion for years. I know it can be frustrating, but we must keep up the fight. Don't give up. I will keep fighting right along with you."

The governor told reporters after the rally that she isn't offering any deals to Republicans to try to expand Medicaid.

"I mean, I've had conversations with leadership," she said. "But, you know, I know when it's futile, so I haven't bothered to spend the time to put together a deal because right now they're not willing to negotiate."

Kelly said she won't offer Republicans her signature on one of their priorities, such as a flat income tax.

"I'll never do those kinds of things," she said. "I'm not going to sacrifice the entire state of Kansas for a piece of legislation."

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, told supporters in a January newsletter that Medicaid expansion would be "budget busting" and that Kelly "misled Kansans on the benefit it would provide to rural Kansas hospitals" in her State of the State address. He has tweeted or retweeted multiple posts opposing Medicaid expansion this session.

When Kelly unveiled her budget proposal in January, it included Medicaid expansion.

"Medicaid expansion is a nonstarter," said Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill and the top House official on budgeting, at the time. "So that's going to be probably taken out of the governor's budget."

Kelly said she has tailored her proposals to address concerns raised by opponents, such as the cost of expansion, reinsurance and whether it benefits able-bodied adults.

"Despite there being solutions to each of their concerns, the opponents to expansion would not budge," she said. "But I haven't let those roadblocks stop me from continuing to advocate for Medicaid expansion because it remains the most commonsense way to help our state in so many different ways."

Rev. Bobby Love, of Second Baptist Church in Olathe, recited the parable of the good Samaritan in criticizing legislators opposed to helping people obtain health care through Medicaid expansion.

"They have been wounded by those who sit in offices in this building who are standing in the way, who refuse to provide help," Love said.

Shari Coatney, president and CEO of the Southeast Kansas Independent Living Resource Center, led a chant of "shame on you."

Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce President Curtis Sneden's message focused on a theme of failing to pass Medicaid expansion is bad for business. He pointed to retaining health care workers, the burden on uncompensated providers, a healthy workforce, the risk of rural hospital closures and leaving federal tax dollars unused.

"My focus has been on business," Sneden said. "Don't hear that to mean that my members and I or business owners all across the state aren't as concerned about the moral implications of this issue as you are. ... We are working to forge a new type of voice, a louder voice, so that once and for all this issue will have its day in court."

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Laura Kelly pushes for Medicaid expansion as Kansas Republican say no