Thread by @j_a_pip

In the #nc Senate primary I will be voting in later this spring, #medicaid expansion is already a hot topic. As a result, I decided to look into what has happened since 2010 when it comes to expanding Medicaid in NC. This thread is what I’ve found. #ncpol #faync

In 2013 SB4 passed and was signed into law by former Gov @PatMcCroryNC. The heading states “AN ACT… (3) TO REJECT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT'S OPTIONAL MEDICAID EXPANSION.” You can read this law at ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/201…

Ironically, one thing SB4 did was repeal Section 49 of Session Law 2011-145 (ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/201…) when the intent was laid to set up a state exchange as Patient Protection Affordable Care Act allows.

While not Medicaid expansion, the exchange programs are to help those get insurance who don’t qualify for Medicaid or have health insurance through their employer.

Following the passage of SB4 in 2013, SB730 was filed and never moved after it was referred to Committee. ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/201…

HB1083 was also filed and also never moved after it was referred to Committee. ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/201…

In 2011, the @ncgop had majorities in both chambers and passed the intent to create an exchange, this was signed into law by former Democratic Governor Bev Perdue.

In 2013, the @ncgop had majorities in both chambers of the #ncga and had one term Pat in the Governor’s mansion.

In 2015, SB365 was filed and again never moved after being referred to committee. ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/201…

In 2015, HB330 was filed and again never moved after being referred to committee. ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/201…

Odd how, the bills that would expand #medicaid so far didn’t move in committee. But then again the @ncgop still had majorities, so if they didn’t want a bill to move, they could let it just sit in committee until the end of the session.

In 2016, HB1073 was filed. What a surprised, it never moved after being referred to committee. ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/201…

In Nov 2016, NC elected @roycoopernc as Governor to make @PatMcCroryNC one term Pat. The downside, the @ncgop had super majorities in both champers of the #ncga.

In 2017, SB280 was filed to again try and pass #medicaid expansion in NC. Yet again, the bill did not move once referred to committee. ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/201…

The House also knew they needed to try on their end to get the ball rolling and filed HB858. At this point, it should be no surprised that the bill did move once referred to committee. ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/201…

In 2018, the Senate tried again and filed SB767. Again, the bill did not move once referred to committee. ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/201…

In the 2018, we were able to break the super majorities the @ncgop had in both chambers of the #ncga. However, they still held majorities in both chambers. This forced them to work some with Democrats but there have been many issues since.

Before we look at the bills filed in the 2019-2020 session, let’s talk about the state budget that should have been signed into law in summer 2019.

@roycoopernc did veto the 2019-2021 budget because of a number of things that it did not include. Dispute some jacked up moves, the veto was not overridden. governor.nc.gov/news/governor-…

The veto also prevented all state employees from receiving increases in their paycheck. While larger increases were needed than what the @ncgop put in the budget, I have always been mixed on the veto.

In January 2019, SB3 was filed to once again try and expand #medicaid. Newly elected Senator @kdeviere was one of the Sponsors for this bill. But the @ncgop still controlled the chamber, so the bill never moved after it was referred to committee. ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/201…

On the same day, HB5 was filed in the house. But there was no movement once it was referred to committee the next day. ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/201…

In January 2020, HB1032 was filed to serve as intent to expand #medicaid. Fun fact on this bill, Rep @goNCRichardson was the primary sponsor. He represents part of #faync and was a sponsor on many of the house bills to expand Medicaid. ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/201…

In 2020, SB834 was filed and again Senator @kdeviere was one of the sponsors. Unfortunately, the bill did not move once it was referred to committee. ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/201…

In 2021, HB470 was filed but it has met the fate of every other bill and has not moved since it was referred to committee. Since the session has not ended, maybe we will see movement on the bill later this year, not getting my hopes up. ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/202…

Also in 2021, SB402 was filed and has met the same fate so far this session. ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/202…

In 2021 after issues with the state budget, a conference committee was created that included @kdeviere as one of the Democratic members of the Senate.

In November the conference report was released and passed. This happened in less than a week.

Important to note about the Conference Committee, while Democrats were able to get some things into the Conference Report (the budget that passed), these things were not at the level they wanted. This includes the amount of the raise for state employees and Medicaid expansion.

The Conference Report did create a Joint Legislative Committee on Access to Healthcare and Medicaid Expansion in Section 5.13 (page 43). ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/202…

Great news for those who try and say @kdeviere isn’t doing enough to get Medicaid Expansion, he was appointment as one of the members of this committee. #faync

The Joint Legislative Committee has already begun meeting and will have their next meeting later this month. You can see their documents and sign up to be notified of their meetings at ncleg.gov/Committees/Com…

From what I looked at, there have been 14 bills filed by various democrats in the #ncga and none of the bills have moved from committee. There is NO Democrat to blame for this because in this time, democrats have never held a majority in either chamber.

The @ncgop currently does not want Medicaid expansion and therefore they alone have prevented any bills from going to the floor for a vote. Only they can say why they don’t want the floor votes to happen.

For anyone to say that they should be in office instead of Senator @kdeviere because they will fight for #medicaid expansion is crazy. That is only an argument you can use against someone who hasn’t been fighting for #medicaid expansion. #faync #ncpol