2022 WY Governor's race: on Health Care

Mark Gordon: Kept state "open for business" during pandemic

As we move into the next phase of managing the pandemic and consider President Trump's guidelines for "Opening Up America Again," we are applying our propensity for planning to reopen the segments of our economies that temporarily closed. Each of us has identified triggers for when regions of our states and sectors of our economies should reopen, based on metrics tailored to our unique circumstances. We are sharing expertise and best practices on how to safely reopen restaurants, churches, gyms and other businesses while continuing to slow the spread of infection.

Theresa Livingston: Medicaid expansion would be No. 1 priority as governor

The issue has become more critical, Livingston said, as abortion is soon-to-be banned in Wyoming and two labor and delivery units have closed in the state within the past year. Livingston would be in favor of subsidizing hospitals for the cost of childbirth to keep the remaining birthing units open.

Mark Gordon: Strong "no" on Medicaid expansion; led charge in legislature

Wyoming is one of 12 states that have resisted expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The federal government provides states a federal matching rate for the cost of expanding Medicaid coverage to cover the cost of adults with incomes up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level of $17,744. The fear of accepting the match is that Washington will yank it away some day, or reduce the amount of the match, straining the budgets of states like Wyoming.

Rammell said the last thing people in Wyoming should do "is get more addicted to federal money." Washington is bound to go bankrupt under the strain of its $30 trillion of debt, he said.

Mark Gordon: COVID-19 public health orders were balanced

Governor Mark Gordon defended the public health orders he enacted, saying he withstood pressure to take even more drastic actions.

Some of the attacks came from inside Wyoming. Governor Gordon responded angrily at early news conferences to calls from his political left that he should issue a statewide "stay at home order." Critics on his right questioned the science and the legality of the orders. Gordon famously called the resistors "knuckleheads." Rammell said that Gordon went too far.

Rex Rammell: No on Medicaid expansion: we're addicted to federal money

Wyoming is one of 12 states that have resisted expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The federal government provides states a federal matching rate for the cost of expanding Medicaid coverage to cover the cost of adults with incomes up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level of $17,744. The fear of accepting the match is that Washington will yank it away some day, or reduce the amount of the match, straining the budgets of states like Wyoming.

Rammell said the last thing people in Wyoming should do "is get more addicted to federal money." Washington is bound to go bankrupt under the strain of its $30 trillion of debt, he said.

Rex Rammell: COVID-19 restrictions went too far & overreached authority

Governor Mark Gordon defended the public health orders he enacted, saying he withstood pressure to take even more drastic actions.

Some of the attacks came from inside Wyoming. Governor Gordon responded angrily at early news conferences to calls from his political left that he should issue a statewide "stay at home order." Critics on his right questioned the science and the legality of the orders. Gordon famously called the resistors "knuckleheads." Rammell said that Gordon went too far.