Wyoming lawmakers say Medicaid expansion unlikely

ome key Wyoming lawmakers say they see little chance the Legislature will move to expand the Medicaid program now that Gov. Matt Mead has recommended against doing so. Mead rolled out his budget recommendations on Friday, recommending against accepting $50 million in federal funds to expand the low-income health care program. The governor says he doubts the federal government can afford a long term commitment to an expanded program, a cornerstone of the federal Affordable Care Act. Republican Sen. Tony Ross of Cheyenne will serve as Senate president starting next year. He says Medicaid expansion would be tough for lawmakers to swallow. And Republican Sen. Phil Nicholas of Laramie, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, says he believes that Mead's recommendation likely settles the issue for state lawmakers.