Democrats criticize GOP over Medicare inaction

Democrats criticize GOP over Medicare inaction

COLUMBUS — Democratic lawmakers slammed the GOP leaders of the Ohio House and Senate Tuesday for failing to move on an expansion to Medicaid eligibility, despite earlier assurances of hearings and potential action before the end of the summer recess.

“I believe there’s only one reason not to act at this time,” state Sen. Capri Cafaro (D-Hubbard) told reporters during a morning press conference at the Statehouse. “That’s motivated by cowardice, by fear and by being selfishly motivated by politics.”

House Minority Leader Tracy Heard (D-Columbus) voiced comparable frustration in a later released statement: “It is discouraging that no legislative action is even ongoing. It would be different if House members were actively working out legislative components of Medicaid expansion through the committee process, but we really have yet to see any action along those lines. I would encourage Republican leaders to bring us back to work before dragging out more tired and stale false deadlines.”

Both comments came the day after the head of the Ohio House’s finance committee said he expected action on the Medicaid issue in coming months.

For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Vindicator or vindy.com