FACT CHECK: John Bel Edwards Wants Health Care for Middle-Class Louisianians; Vitter Wants to Take It Away

Summary: John Bel Edwards believes in the moral responsibility of expanding access to quality health care for 290,000 Louisianians. He knows that it is the best policy for our state, and has promised to do it on Day One.

David Vitter will hurt Louisianians by refusing to expand that access. He has opposed this compassionate policy by refusing to state clearly that he will expand health care access on Day One. A Vitter Administration would hurt Louisianians, especially those least able to afford care.

 

MEDICAID EXPANSION COULD PROVIDE CARE TO OVER 225,000 LOUISIANANS AND BRING BACK $16 BILLION IN OUR TAX DOLLARS

 

Medicaid Expansion Could Provide Over 225,000 Uninsured People With Health Coverage. “The Louisiana Senate gave final approval Monday to a measure that would allow the next governor to expand Medicaid… Under the resolution, the new governor who takes office in January would have until April to move forward with plans that could provide 225,000-plus uninsured people in Louisiana with health coverage.” [The Advocate, 6/1/15]

 

John Bel Supports Bringing Back $16 Billion Of Louisianans Taxes By Expanding Medicaid. “Edwards defended his support for Medicaid expansion in an email Friday. ‘Bringing $16 billion of our taxes home is probably the most fiscally conservative idea that has been suggested to finance health care since Bobby Jindal took office,’ Edwards said in a statement. ‘The independent Legislative Fiscal Office estimated that Edwards’ health care legislation referenced in the attack ad would save $52 million for the state in the first year alone, and would have prevented the federal government from sending $1.6 billion a year in Louisiana taxes to other states.’” [The Times-Picayune, 10/9/15]

 

  • John Bel: “We Should Stop Sending Our Federal Tax Dollars To Washington, D.C., So They Can Send It To The 30 States That Have Expanded The Medicaid Program.” Edwards: “We should stop sending our federal tax dollars to Washington, D.C., so they can send it to the 30 states that have expanded the Medicaid program. I’m not going to back down, I do support the Medicaid expansion because it’s the right thing to do.” [The Times-Picayune, 10/21/15]

 

JOHN BEL BELIEVES IN THE MORAL IMPERATIVE OF CARING FOR THE POOREST AMONG US

 

John Bel Believes In The Moral Imperative Of Caring For The Poorest Among Us. “The economic benefits of Medicaid expansion are impactful, but just as importantly, we must recognize that it is simply the right thing to do. To improve healthcare for everyone, we must ensure the parents, children and working-disadvantaged of our state have access to care and that providers are not struggling to provide that care.” [John Bel Edwards, Healthcare]

 

John Bel Noted The Story Of The Good Samaritan Was About Providing Healthcare To A Stranger On One’s Own Dime. EDWARDS: “We all know the story of the good Samaritan. And we always remember who the Good Samaritan was. But we often forget what was act of neighborly love was – providing healthcare to a stranger on one’s own dime. The Good Samaritan found the robber’s victim on the road, he stopped, cleaned his would, bound it up, put him on a beast and took him to the inn. He paid the innkeeper and told him, if this isn’t enough for his care I will pay you on my return trip. Now, in Louisiana, we’re paying the dime to the tune of $16 billion over the next ten years, we’re just refusing the care.” [John Bel Edwards Remarks]

 

TEN REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS HAVE EXPANDED MEDICAID AND REFUSED TO REPEAL THE EXPANSION

 

Ten Republican Governors Have Expanded Medicaid And Refused To Repeal The Expansion. “The ACA, more than any other issue, has rallied conservatives, and Republicans regained control of the House in 2010 and the Senate in 2014 in part on promises to repeal the act. But of the 10 states in which Republican governors expanded Medicaid, none has backed out in the face of frequent efforts by GOP legislators to reverse the decision.” [News Leader, 11/7/15]