MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama lawmakers voted Tuesday to override Gov. Robert Bentley and enact a budget that governor had rejected over Medicaid funding.
The House of Representatives voted to 71-24 and the Alabama Senate voted 22-10 to override Bentley’s veto.
The governor had vetoed the budget he said was $85 million short of money needed to maintain services and reimbursement rates in the state’s Medicaid program and continue a transition plan to managed care later this year. Republican lawmakers, who voted to override Bentley, said the state was working with limited funds and did not have the additional money to steer to Medicaid without raising taxes or cutting other state services.
“I do not see this body raising taxes or raiding education,” said Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said as he called for the override vote.
Bentley had sent the budget back to lawmakers Tuesday.