Gov. Asa Hutchinson has vetoed amended language in Medicaid legislation that would have ended funding for his Arkansas Works program by Dec. 31, thus continuing funding through fiscal 2017.
Earlier Thursday, the Arkansas House of Representatives approved an appropriation bill to fund the state’s Medicaid expansion for low-income residents, one day after the Arkansas Senate approved similar legislation.
Thursday’s 76-13 vote by the House marked the final approval needed from the Legislature for the funding measure to head to Hutchinson’s desk.
Hutchinson, shortly after vetoing the amendment approved by the House and Senate in Medicaid appropriation legislation, said Thursday afternoon that the “will of both parties has been accomplished.”
Seventy-five yeas were required for passage from the 100-member House as part of a three-fourths vote requirement.
On Wednesday, the Senate in a 27-2 vote approved Senate Bill 121, which grants the state Department of Human Services’ Medical Services Division $8.4 billion in spending for fiscal 2017 until Dec. 31, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette previously reported.
Rep. Kim Hendren, R-Gravette, who ultimately voted against the bill, said on the House floor that he would only vote in favor of the legislation if he was needed to secure the 75th vote, calling the circumstance a “unique situation.”
“We’re doing the right thing in the wrong way, and it's setting a precedent for your kids and my kids and my grandkids that we should not be doing,” Hendren said, adding his concern over “sunset” language from the Special Language Committee, which he called “nefarious.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Laurie Rushing, R-Hot Springs, said she would support the bill, despite objections and her belief that “we can do better than Arkansas Works and the private option.”
“The beauty of this bill that we have in front of us today is, those of us that voted no and were opposed to Arkansas Works, we have accomplished what we asked for,” she said, referencing the removal of the program from the legislation.
Check back with ArkansasOnline for updates and read Friday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
