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Schauer says Tough Nerd not tough with Legislature

Lester Graham
/
Michigan Radio

A Democratic candidate for governor says Rick Snyder is not being tough enough with the Legislature.

At a fundraiser in Ypsilanti yesterday [Saturday], Mark Schauer said Governor Snyder needs to push the Legislature to pass Medicaid expansion.

The election for Michigan governor is nearly a year-and-a-half away, but Democrat Mark Schauer is campaigning and criticizing Governor Snyder.

He says he’d do more to get the state Senate to vote on Medicaid expansion.

“What I would do is call the Legislature immediately into a special session -he has the constitutional authority- specifically to pass Medicaid expansion. I, for the life of me, can’t figure out why he’s not doing it. I guarantee you that the state Senate will not pass Medicaid expansion if they’re not there,” Schauer said in an interview with Michigan Watch.

The House has already passed the measure.

An eight-member group of senators is reviewing the Medicaid proposal. But without the full senate approval, Michigan has already missed a federal deadline to expand the government health care program.

“You know, I think we need to see a little more toughness out of an individual who campaigned as a Tough Nerd. Right now, we’re seeing an ineffective leader," Schauer said.

Governor Snyder has been taking his message on the road, telling audiences the state should expand Medicaid coverage to about 320,000 low-income people using available federal funds.

Lester Graham reports for The Environment Report. He has reported on public policy, politics, and issues regarding race and gender inequity. He was previously with The Environment Report at Michigan Public from 1998-2010.