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Political Brew 6/24

NEWS CENTER Maine political anaylsts Phil Harriman and John Richardson say the Medicaid expansion fight isn't over. And they handicap the Fall political races now that all of the nominees are known.

PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER Maine)-- NEWS CENTER Maine political anaylsts Phil Harriman and John Richardson say the Medicaid expansion fight isn't over. And they handicap the Fall political races now that all of the nominees are known.

Maine lawmakers have approved a funding package for Medicaid expansion, allowing for up to $60 million for the state's share of paying to provide insurance for tens of thousands more Mainers.
But it is likely Gov. Paul LePage will veto the measure.

Former state senator Phil Harriman says the matter is still playing out in court as well.
Harriman says "It's going to drag on... The money appropriated is nowhere near enough to fund a program that's expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars" over time.

Former Speaker of the House John Richardson agrees we will hear more about this, but he thinks it's a win for Democrats. he also says it will rfeduce charity care costs and hospital debt.

This week Gov. Paul LePage offered words of support for state Rep. Marty Grohman, a Democrat- turned- independent in the race for Congress in Maine's first district. LePage did so even though there is also a Republican in the race to unseat Rep. Chellie Pingree.
Says Richardson, "It's as close to an endorsement as you're ever going to get from the governor. He's basically telling people, go vote in a ranked choice voting situation for the Republican, but also vote for Marty Grohman."

Harriman says he was in the room when the governor made his remarks. He says LePage was talking about the partisan nature and ineffectiveness of the legislature, and he singled out Grohman as one who is not bound by part politics.

Harriman and Richardson also talk about the second district Congressional race. Neither believes the presence of two independent candidates will have an impact on the contest between Rep. Bruce Poliquin and Democratic challenger Jared Golden.

And they look at the showdown between newly minted Democratic nominee Janet Mills and Republican candidate Shawn Moody in the race for governor. They say voters have a clear choice when it comes to issues and personalities.

Politcal Brew airs Sundays on the Morning Report.

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