Some clear differences are on display in the Democratic primay in AR-02.
Wills, the Arkansas House Speaker, told reporters he was concerned about the cost of the proposed health overhaul to the state’s Medicaid budget.
“I would not have voted for it because I’m an ‘Arkansas first’ guy and I think any bill Congress puts out, the first thing it should do is no harm,” Wills said. “That bill is going to add $300 million or so to our Medicaid budget, and we have no idea how we’re going to pay for it.”
Okay, IF the 300 million claim is true, I can see Wills point…IF IT IS TRUE. I’m currently working on fact checking that figure and trust me, if it’s false, I plan on busting him big time. For what it’s worth, the Governor’s office offers a lower figure for state medicaid costs:
Gov. Mike Beebe’s office has said the health care overhaul approved by Congress would add $200 million a year to the state’s Medicaid budget starting in 2017.
So at the very least, the Governor’s office is either off 100 million or, more likely, Wills decided to exaggerate. Again, I’m looking int
o it, and I plan on busting him big if there’s even an ounce of falsehood in this.
However, there is an upside to all this. Joyce Elliott seems to be offering voters in AR-02 a clear choice in the primary.
Wills’ only announced Democratic rival, state Sen. Joyce Elliott of Little Rock, said Thursday that she would have leaned toward supporting the health care bill.
“I would have done everything I would have to find a way to vote for something that was going to be helpful to this country,” Elliott said.
You know, in the end that’s all we can ask, and I think that’s a great way of explaining it to voters…especially the primary electorate. I’m not endorsing yet, but between the two of them, I have to say I’m finding myself preferring Elliott to Wills.
Thanks for this great look at the differences between the candidates on policy.