Senate Democrats say their priority for the 2013 legislative session is getting Alabama to expand its Medicaid program.
The Senate Democratic Caucus announced at a news conference Tuesday that it hopes to get Republican Gov. Robert Bentley to reverse his decision not to expand the program under the federal Affordable Care Act. Bentley, a physician, is opposed to enlarging the Medicaid program under the current structure.
Democratic Sen. Hank Sanders of Selma said the Affordable Care Act would allow Alabama to expand Medicaid to 300,000 people and have the federal government pick up the total cost initially. Senate Minority Leader Vivian Davis Figures of Mobile said it would be a huge boost to Alabama's economy.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
