2018 AK Governor's race: on Health Care


Bill Walker: 2015: expanded Medicaid himself after Legislature opted out

The gubernatorial campaign is turning on funding for state programs, especially Medicaid. When Walker announced he was suspending his campaign, he specifically cited protecting the expansion of Medicaid as a reason he wanted to see votes against [Republican opponent Mike] Dunleavy combined under one banner in the election [by withdrawing and endorsing Mark Begich].

Walker opted to expand Medicaid himself in 2015 after the state Legislature opted not to pass a bill expanding the program. But Dunleavy has criticized the move during campaign events and said at a recent debate that "we need to make sure the programs we have in place are managed well." One of Dunleavy's six major policy planks is cutting state spending.

Walker said as he dropped out that Dunleavy would "cause the most vulnerable to suffer the brunt of the additional $1 billion in budget cuts he vows to make to education, rural Alaska and those receiving health care."

Source: Politico.com's Daniel Strauss on 2018 Alaska Governor race Oct 25, 2018

Mike Dunleavy: Eliminate all health care assistance by government

The 2015 decision to expand Medicaid triggered a lawsuit from the Senate, which accused Walker of overstepping the legislative process. Then Senator Dunleavy was one legislator who was critical of Walker's decision. "I want everyone to have affordable, quality healthcare. But when one third of Alaskans are forced to rely on Medicaid, is that something we should be proud of?" Dunleavy added that if elected his focus would be on helping more find health insurance without government assistance.
Source: KTUU on 2018 Alaska gubernatorial race Aug 3, 2018

Bill Walker: Bipartisan compromise on healthcare

Walker announced his support for the Alexander-Murray bipartisan health care agreement. "Alaskans pay more for health care than most Americans do," Walker said. "Right now, more than 36,000 Alaskans have access to affordable health care thanks to Medicaid expansion, and some health insurance premiums have dropped more than 20 percent due to the innovation waiver granted by the Trump administration under the existing health care law. That coverage must be protected."
Source: Daily News-Miner on 2018 Alaska Governor race Oct 20, 2017

Mike Chenault: Any expansion of Medicaid must be result of careful analysis

The Alaska Legislative Council voted to file an injunction against the governor for his attempt to expand Medicaid without authorization. Medicaid covers Alaska's most vulnerable: families, pregnant mothers, disabled and children. Many legislators support extending Medicaid if it's the outcome of a smart process. Any expansion must be driven by answers instead of by questions. Prudence demands sideboards and reforms to our system in order to protect the vulnerable Medicaid currently serves.
Source: Anchorage Daily News on 2018 Alaska Gubernatorial race Jul 7, 2016

  • The above quotations are from 2018 Alaska Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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Candidates and political leaders on Health Care:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 10, 2018