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Gov. Christie backs Obama healthcare law Medicaid expansion
By Sam Baker - 02/26/13 01:08 PM ET
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday became the eighth Republican governor to endorse the Medicaid expansion in President Obama's healthcare law.
Christie's decision is another big political win for Obama and his signature legislative achievement. Although Christie isn't the most conservative governor to accept the Medicaid expansion, he's the most serious contender for the 2016 presidential nomination to sign on.
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The opportunity to significantly expand healthcare coverage with minimal costs to the state has proved attractive to many governors, including several GOP stalwarts.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Florida Gov. Rick Scott have also embraced the Medicaid expansion. Scott drew particular scorn from conservatives, given that he led the historic lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act — and the Medicaid expansion, specifically — as unconstitutional.
The Medicaid expansion will cover about 100,000 people in New Jersey, Christie said.
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/medicaid/284963-report-christie-to-back-obamacare-medicaid-expansion#ixzz2M4NbGpUI
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