Can 2 sides find common ground on expanding Medicaid in Ga.?
ATLANTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Democrats in Georgia are the minority at the state Capitol.
They’ve long pushed for Medicaid expansion and gun safety measures.
This session, House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley says she has new hope.
“You know, under the gold dome, a no might mean ‘not now,’ and windows are never really closed, but Republicans see what we see,” said Hugley. “They see that we have 11.7% uninsured here in Georgia. They see that hospitals have closed. They see that we have maternal care deserts. They see that rural communities don’t have doctors, they don’t have hospitals. They see that, and they feel that this is an economic issue, and we have a moral obligation to continue to push it because it is what is right for the citizens of Georgia.”
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Hugley and Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones have ed together to push Senate Bill 50 through the legislative process.
The bill would have Georgia expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
They got four Republican senators signed onto the measure: Sen. Russ Goodman, Sen. Billy Hickman, Sen. Carden Summers and Sen. Sam Watson.
“This is our number-one legislative priority,” said Jones. “You’ll that last session, we came one vote short of moving that out of committee and onto the Senate floor. We believe this is a bipartisan piece of legislation because we do have some Republican signers for this, too. We believe that this bipartisan legislation can actually get ed, and we’re going to work hard to make sure that actually takes place. Our agenda this year is based on economics, pure and simple. We’re going to make sure that we take care of our people in Georgia.”
Georgia Pathways launched in July 2023. The governor’s office reports that 8,300 people are enrolled in the program. It’s a far cry from the 200,000 people their office expected would be eligible.
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Last month, Gov. Brian Kemp touted the success of the program. He answered questions from reporters, saying he would not Medicaid expansion.
When asked in a press conference earlier this month, Kemp said he wouldn’t Medicaid expansion. Instead, he s increasing eligibility for parents and children.
“Since Pathways launched, my istration has worked with our legislative partners, subject experts, and stakeholders to evaluate its progress and identify opportunities to streamline and make the program more accessible,” said Kemp. “As we do in all areas of government, this work will continue, but with today’s announcement we are not only keeping families healthy together during a critical time of development but also making an important investment in our state’s future.”
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Democrats also posting for safe storage legislation. There are two versions of the bill in the House and the Senate.
Sen. Elena Parent said she dropped a bill on Tuesday to require guns to be secured around children or misdemeanor charges could be brought.
Rep. Michelle Au dropped a similar bill on the first day of the legislative session.
After a school shooting at Apalachee High School, there was an appetite from some Republicans to require safe storage in the state. Since the legislature reconvened, House and Senate leadership has been staunchly against requirements, but have not shut down the idea of incentives.
The governor’s focus on tort reform could be a bargaining chip for Democrats to get bills over the finish line. Kemp ultimately has veto power.
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