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New Jersey GOPers withhold judgment on Christie's Medicaid move
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie upset some conservatives by participating in the Medicaid expansion under President Obama's healthcare law, but his colleagues in Washington took a wait-and-see attitude Tuesday.
Christie announced in his budget address Tuesday that he will be the eighth GOP governor to accept the Medicaid expansion — a major part of the Affordable Care Act that Republicans strongly oppose.
Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) withheld judgment Tuesday when informed by a reporter that Christie had signed on to the Medicaid expansion.
"I'll have to see what his rationale is, and then we'll have to figure out the other half of that, (which) is how that's paid for," Garrett said.
The federal government will initially cover the full cost of the expansion, although the state could incur some administrative expenses. Beginning in 2020, states that participate in the expansion will have to cover 10 percent of the costs.
Rep. Leonard Lance (R-N.J.) said he is a strong supporter of Christie's and said he's sure Christie carefully considered what would be best for the state.
Lance did not support the Affordable Care Act and said he still believes several of its provisions will hurt consumers, but he said Christie's acceptance of such a central provision would not pose a larger setback to repeal parts of the law.
