Healthcare Reform Might Be Biggest Battle Among AR Lawmakers
By: Jonathan Athens, KARK 4 News
Updated: November 8, 2012
Facing a new Republican majority in the Arkansas Senate, Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe said he will continue reaching across the political divide to work with GOP state lawmakers.
At a news conference Wednesday morning, Beebe said he expects Republicans and Democrats to divide on party lines on some issues but he expressed his confidence they will come together in a bipartisan spirit to do what's best for the state.
"I think they've got enough on both sides of the aisle...got enough caring about Arkansas, they'll figure it out," Beebe said.
The biggest uphill battle might be healthcare reform. The Natural State is already facing a $400 million shortfall in its Medicaid program next year.
Beebe has said he wants to expand the program, getting money from the federal government to cover nearly a quarter million uninsured Arkansans under President Obama's sweeping healthcare reform.
Arkansas Republican vigorously oppose the President's plan. They say it will drive up costs and will result in the government standing in between patients and doctors.
In order for Arkansas to move forward with accepting federal dollars to expand Medicaid, three-fourths of the legislature would have to agree.
"Am I willing to work with them? Absolutely. Always have been," Beebe said.
The new session starts in January.
At a news conference Wednesday morning, Beebe said he expects Republicans and Democrats to divide on party lines on some issues but he expressed his confidence they will come together in a bipartisan spirit to do what's best for the state.
"I think they've got enough on both sides of the aisle...got enough caring about Arkansas, they'll figure it out," Beebe said.
The biggest uphill battle might be healthcare reform. The Natural State is already facing a $400 million shortfall in its Medicaid program next year.
Beebe has said he wants to expand the program, getting money from the federal government to cover nearly a quarter million uninsured Arkansans under President Obama's sweeping healthcare reform.
Arkansas Republican vigorously oppose the President's plan. They say it will drive up costs and will result in the government standing in between patients and doctors.
In order for Arkansas to move forward with accepting federal dollars to expand Medicaid, three-fourths of the legislature would have to agree.
"Am I willing to work with them? Absolutely. Always have been," Beebe said.
The new session starts in January.
