Alabama state capitol tileMONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama House of Representatives on Wednesday narrowly approved a deep cut to the state’s Medicaid program as lawmakers continue to deadlock on a solution to the budget shortfall.
The controversial budget cut came out of frustration over the stalemate and is largely seen as a way to build pressure on lawmakers to find some sort of compromise.
House Ways And Means General Fund Committee Chairman Steve Clouse said it will put the focus of the budget debate on Medicaid, which consumes more than one-third of the general fund and is the largest funding challenge for lawmakers. Clouse said the health care program for the poor and disabled is also the “foundation for our health care system in the state of Alabama” — but he said many voters don’t understand the importance of funding it the way they do schools, roads or even prisons.
“I think people need to realize the importance of Medicaid to our communities, to hospitals, to nursing homes, rural health clinics, doctors and nurses,” Clouse said.
House members voted 46-44 for the budget amendment that would give Medicaid a $156 million reduction. The budget now goes to the Alabama Senate, where lawmakers have been even less supportive of tax increases.