Mississippi lawmakers were unable to come to terms on a plan to expand Medicaid during the recently ended session, and Gov. Tate Reeves wasted no time celebrating what he believes to be a victory.
In a lengthy social media post following Tuesday’s official sine die, the Republican governor who often refers to expansion of government-provided healthcare coverage as “welfare” or “Obamacare” blamed the media and national politicians for the idea even coming about.
“It’s official – the 2024 Mississippi Legislature is adjourned as Sine Die,” a portion of Reeves’ post reads. “And the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion scheme was STOPPED – at least for one more year!”
It is official – the 2024 Mississippi Legislature is adjourned Sine Die.
And the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion scheme was STOPPED – for at least one more year!
While the dishonest media activists and others may have their own spin on the story…
Here is the reason why:
The…
— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) May 14, 2024
While Reeves went on to applaud 24 GOP senators he said “courageously opposed” Medicaid expansion, no vote count from the 2024 session reflects that many Republicans being against any Medicaid-related measure. According to the only vote the Senate held to actually expand coverage, 16 Republicans dissented while 20 were in favor. Paired with 16 Democrats, the total number of yeas could have been enough to override a hypothetical veto.
Shelby Wilcher, communications director for Reeves, explained in a text message on Friday afternoon that the governor’s number came from a silent count his office compiled as discussions on Medicaid expansion were being held in conference. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann disagreed, saying his office conducted its own poll amongst senators and had enough Republicans in the Senate willing to move forward with a compromise plan before Democrats in the House withdrew their votes.
“The governor tweets a lot, which is good I guess, and properly cathartic. He has to live in a white house down there with nobody around,” Hosemann said during an appearance on The Ricky Mathews Show. “But we had 36 votes for Medicaid – for