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March 6, 2013

Protesters Challenge Texas Rejection of Medicaid Expansion 
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Hundreds of people rallied at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on
Tuesday to oppose Gov. Rick Perry's rejection of federal Medicaid
assistance. Perry announced last year he would refuse billions of
dollars in federal funding rather than accept the Medicaid expansion
mandated under President Obama's healthcare reform law. Texas has the
highest percentage of uninsured people in the country, with nearly a
quarter of its population, or 6.2 million people, lacking health
insurance. Although a number of other Republican governors also
initially vowed to reject Medicaid expansion, at least two — Chris
Christie of New Jersey and Rick Scott of Florida — have since
changed course by vowing to opt in and accept federal help.

 

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