Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

In order for Arkansas to become a robust state with a healthy economy, we need a healthy workforce.

Most importantly, we must ensure every child in Arkansas has access to quality, affordable health care and can have the opportunity to grow up and live a long, healthy life.

I firmly believe that in the richest, most powerful country in the world, there is no excuse, ever, for a child born in America today to be denied medical care because his or her family can't pay.

I worked in Congress to expand ARKids First to give 60,000 more children in Arkansas access to health care, and, as your Governor, I will always fight to protect every child in every corner of this great state.

I also fully support the recent passage of Arkansas's so-called Medicaid "private option," which opens Medicaid to those folks in Arkansas who are trying to do the right thing and stay off of welfare, but who are working the jobs with little or no benefits. As Governor, I will work to fully implement this new, bipartisan law.

I voted against the federal health care law, or the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (also known as "Obamacare"), four times and I voted to repeal Obamacare 23 times. But, at the time, I said there were good parts and there were bad parts to Obamacare. I think Arkansas's Medicaid expansion, which passed with overwhelming Republican support, is one of the good parts.

Whether you support or oppose Obamacare, expanding Medicaid in Arkansas was the right thing to do, and I commend Gov. Beebe and both parties in the state legislature for finding an Arkansas-specific and market-based solution to this important debate. Now, thousands of working families will have the opportunity to obtain private health insurance, helping to create healthier families and a healthier Arkansas focused on the future. This law is a great example of what we can accomplish when we listen to one another and work together to move Arkansas forward.

As your Governor, I will work day and night to protect our children and will help make sure every Arkansan who is willing to work hard has a fair shot. We may not always agree on every issue, but I will be a steady, compassionate and fair leader who really listens. And, I will use my experience of bringing people together to get results for working families all across this state.

Source