Plan to force Corbett to accept Medicaid expansion in Pa. falters

The fate of proposed legislation to compel Gov. Tom Corbett to accept a Medicaid expansion in Pennsylvania remains uncertain.House Republicans have removed the expansion language from a key budget-related bill already passed by the Senate.

House Majority Leader Mike Turzai says his caucus doesn’t support the provision, in part, because the governor is still in talks with federal officials to try to make any expansion contingent on program reforms and cost controls.

“It’s premature, a,” he said. “And, b, it’s usurping he governor’s and the executive branch’s responsibilities.”

Turzai says he objects to language that would compel an expansion with the approval of the Legislature and the governor, even if certain conditions are not met.

He says he’s been told by Senate leaders they will vote for the measure even without Medicaid expansion included, but Senate Republicans say they’re not committed to doing so.

Many House Republicans oppose Medicaid expansion.

It was amended into an omnibus budget-related measure that included many items with bipartisan appeal