BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu says Gov. Bobby Jindal's refusal to expand Louisiana's Medicaid program is tied to his presidential ambitions at the expense of benefits for his home state.
The Democratic senator Tuesday accused the Republican governor of obstructionism.
Landrieu said Jindal seems adamant about putting his political future ahead of the economic interests of the people of Louisiana.
Jindal says he disagrees with the growth of the federal government health care program.
He says insurance is better handled by private companies and states should be free to design health programs that suit their individual needs.
Estimates are that 400,000 Louisiana residents could be eligible for Medicaid if the state chose to expand the government-run health insurance program, with the federal government paying most of the costs.
Christie agrees to expand Medicaid in NJ
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Gov. Chris Christie says New Jersey will join a growing list of states expanding Medicaid to more low-income people.
Christie announced the plan in his state budget address Tuesday.
Christie is the eighth Republican governor to endorse the expansion, which is part of the federal health insurance overhaul.
Lawmakers are likely to approve in New Jersey.
If they do, more childless adults will be eligible for Medicaid and the federal government will pick up the bill for the first three years.
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