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Democrats Contend Republicans Stalling On Expanding Medicaid

Democrats in the Ohio House are accusing Republican legislative leaders of stalling on a decision on whether to expand the Medicaid health program to cover more low-income residents.

Ohio House Speaker Bill Batchelder recently told reporters that state lawmakers were having a tough time drafting legislation to change the Medicaid program because of the way the federal health care law is written. Plus, he says he's not yet sure where the votes are for any proposed changes. The Republican leader says the House wouldn't be ready to take any action on Medicaid by October, but more likely by year's end. State Rep. Mike Foley, a Cleveland Democrat, calls it a "deeply disturbing" timeframe. Meanwhile, mental health advocates also called for expansion at the Statehouse on Wednesday.

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