TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The head of Alabama's pension program for public employees says the governor acted irresponsibly by refusing to expand the state Medicaid program under the federal Affordable Care Act.
Retirement Systems of Alabama CEO David Bronner told the Tuscaloosa Rotary Club on Tuesday that the Medicaid expansion would have the same economic impact on the state that the construction of the federal interstate highway system did in the 1950s and '60s.
Gov. Robert Bentley has said repeatedly that he won't expand Medicaid as it now exists because the system is broken and too costly.
Bronner did not mention Bentley by name in the governor's hometown. But Bronner said only 14 governors have refused to accept federal funding for the expansion. He referred to them as "these 14 idiots across America."