Davy Carter Wants More Say on State Budget (AP Interview)

by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press  on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 1:01 pm  

Incoming House Speaker Davy Carter says he doesn't know whether the Legislature can find middle ground on a proposal to expand Medicaid.

"Until I can be convinced that we can afford it, I'm going to be extremely hesitant to be able to support expansion," Carter said.

Carter also said he believes it's possible to fill the projected Medicaid shortfall without making cuts in services proposed by Beebe's administration, but wouldn't detail where the money would be found. The Department of Human Services has called for cuts in several areas to make up for the projected deficit. Beebe has said the savings from Medicaid expansion would help the state avoid the cuts that would affect more than 10,000 Arkansans in nursing homes.

"I don't think we have to make those decisions this session," he said. "I think there ought to be ways for everybody to stay pat where we are and plug those holes and then try to fix the problem going forward."

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, broadcast or distributed.)

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