STATEMENT FROM SENATE PRESIDENT ALFOND ON FAILURE TO OVERRIDE VETO FOR HEALTH CARE EXPANSION

AUGUSTA—Senate President Justin Alfond of Portland released the following statement on the failure to override the Governor’s veto to expand health care to nearly 70,000 Maine people.

“For months lawmakers have worked on a bipartisan plan to accept the federal government’s offer to expand health care to nearly 70,000 Maine people, at no cost to the state. This was a good deal—and it was the right deal for the people of Maine. It is fiscally and morally the right thing to do. It is disappointing that at the end of the day there were not enough Republicans willing to join us.

This issue is critically important—and we will not give up on our pursuit to make sure every person can afford to get the health care they need. I am proud of the good work and the dedicated spirit of so many who stood up for the best interests and health of Maine people.”

The last roll call vote of 23—12 in the Senate included support from Democrats, Republicans, and the one Independent.

The bipartisan compromise on LD 1066, “An Act To Increase Access to Health Coverage and Qualify Maine for Federal Funding,” would have directed the state to accept federal health care dollars to cover tens of thousands of Mainers for three years. An amendment to the original bill sunset the plan on December 31, 2016 prior to any reduction of federal dollars.

Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government has agreed to pay an unprecedented 100 percent of the cost for covering all newly eligible people for the first three years, and then gradually lower their payment to no less than 90 percent of the cost by 2020.

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