By GARRY RAYNO, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD — Advocates, health care providers, business organizations, cancer survivors, recovering addicts and patients of mental health services testified in support of a bill to reauthorize the state’s Medicaid expansion program permanently.
kAm%96J 2=D@ 96=A65 2?DH6C E96 BF6DE:@? $6?2E6 q:== aeb’D AC:>6 DA@?D@C[ $6?2E6 !C6D:56?E y63 qC25=6J[ D2:5 H2D E96 @?=J @?6 E92E ?66565 E@ 36 255C6DD65 3J E96 w@FD6 w62=E9 2?5 wF>2? $6CG:46D 2?5 t=56C=J p772:CD r@>>:EE66]k^Am
kAm“x 9@A6 E96 BF6DE:@? J@F H:== 2D< E92E E96 $6?2E6 2D<65[ ‘w2D |65:42:5 6IA2?D:@? H@C<65n’ 2?5 x 36=:6G6 E96 2?DH6C :D 2 C6D@F?5:?8 ‘J6D[’” qC25=6J D2:5k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E96 E9C66\9@FC 962C:?8[ 2== 3FE @?6 A6CD@? FC865 E96 w@FD6 4@>>:EE66 E@ C62FE9@C:K6 E96 AC@8C2> 2?5 E@ >2<6 :E A6C>2?6?E[ 2D s2G:5 yFG6E @7 E96 qFD:?6DD 2?5 x?5FDECJ pDD@4:2E:@? D2:5[ “%9:D :D ?@E 2 ?6H AC@8C2>] (6 92G6 `_ J62CD @7 6IA6C:6?46 D@ :E >2<6D ?@ D6?D6 E@ C62FE9@C:K6 :E 7@C EH@ J62CD 2?5 4@>6 324< 2?5 C62FE9@C:K6 :E 282:?]”k^Am
kAm%96 w@FD6 u:?2?46 r@>>:EE66 3F586E A=2?[ H9:49 E96 w@FD6 G@E6D @? %9FCD52J[ @?=J C62FE9@C:K6D E96 AC@8C2> 7@C EH@ J62CD[ H9:49 qC25=6J 2?5 @E96CD D2:5 H@F=5 42FD6 AC@3=6>D H:E9 4@?D:DE6?4J 7@C 962=E9 42C6 AC@G:56CD 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D[ 2?5 2 A6C>2?6?E AC@8C2> H:== 2==@H E96 DE2E6 E@ ?68@E:2E6 2 36EE6C 7:?2?4:2= 4@?EC24E H:E9 E96 >2?2865 42C6 @C82?:K2E:@?D E92E 25>:?:DE6C E96 vC2?:E6 p5G2?E286 w62=E9 r2C6 !C@8C2> 2=@?8 H:E9 C68F=2C |65:42C6]k^Am
kAm%96 =@?6 G@:46 :? @AA@D:E:@? E@ 3@E9 C62FE9@C:K:?8 E96 4@?EC24E 2?5 >2<:?8 :E A6C>2?6?E H2D vC68 |@@C6 @7 p>6C:42?D u@C !C@DA6C:EJ[ 2 z@49 u@F?52E:@? @C82?:K2E:@?]k^Am
kAmw6 ?@E65 E96 AC@8C2> 92D “2 H6=72C6 36?67:E 4=:77” H9:49 4@F=5 36 2 5:D:?46?E:G6 7@C D@>6@?6 E@ C6EFC? E@ H@C<]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 E96 AC@8C2> 92D “2? :?5F465 56>2?5” E92E 92D 25565 9F?5C65D @7 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD E@ E96 >2C<6EA=246 =625:?8 E@ @G6C FE:=:K2E:@? @7 D6CG:46D C6DF=E:?8 :? H@C<7@C46 D9@CE286D 24C@DD E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAmw6 DF886DE65 2 EH@\J62C C62FE9@C:K2E:@? H@F=5 2==@H =2H>2<6CD E@ BF:4<=J C6DA@?5 E@ 2?J 492?86D :? E96 AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAmqFE DFAA@CE6CD D2:5 E96C6 2C6 >2?J AC@E64E:@?D 3F:=E :?E@ E96 DE2EFE6D :?4=F5:?8 368:??:?8 E96 C62FE9@C:K2E:@? AC@46DD :7 E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E 72:=D E@ >66E :ED C6BF:C6>6?E E@ 4@G6C h_ A6C46?E @7 E96 4@DE[ @C :7 E96 DE2E6 ?665D E@ FD6 86?6C2= 7F?5D E@ 4@G6C :ED @3=:82E:@?]k^Am
kAmp?5 qC25=6J ?@E65 2?J >6>36C @7 E96 =68:D=2EFC6 42? :?EC@5F46 2 3:== 2?J E:>6 E@ 492?86 E96 DJDE6>]k^Am
kAm#J6 A9JD:4:2? %@> $96C>2? H9@ H2D 2 w@FD6 >6>36C H96? 96 H2D @? E96 @C:8:?2= 4@>>:DD:@? H@C<:?8 E@ 6DE23=:D9 E96 6IA2?D:@? AC@8C2> F?56C E96 p77@C523=6 r2C6 p4E[ E@@< :DDF6 H:E9 |@@C6 D2J:?8 E96 AC@8C2> :D 2 5:D:?46?E:G6 E@ H@C<]k^Am
kAm“%9:D 5@6D?’E <66A A6@A=6 @77 H@C<[ :E 24EF2==J 86ED E96> 324< E@ H@C< 2?5 @77 AF3=:4 2DD:DE2?46[” D2:5 $96C>2? H9@ C2? 7@C 8@G6C?@C =2DE J62C =@D:?8 E@ :?4F>36?E v@G] r9C:D $F?F?F] “%9:D :D E96 <6J E@ 86EE:?8 E96> 324< :?E@ E96 H@C<7@C46 E@ 86EE:?8 E96:C 5:8?:EJ[ E96:C =:76 2?5 E96:C 64@?@>:4 DE23:=:EJ 324<]”k^Am
kAmw6 E@=5 @7 EH@ @7 9:D A2E:6?ED H9@ DECF88=65 H:E9 962=E9 :DDF6D F?E:= E96J ;@:?65 E96 AC@8C2> 2?5 C63@F?565]k^Am
kAmqC25=6J E@=5 E96 4@>>:EE66 E92E H9:=6 E96 AC@8C2> 92D 366? :? A=246 7@C `_ J62CD[ :?5:G:5F2=D 2C6 @?=J @? :E 2 D9@CE E:>6 F?E:= E96J C682:? E96:C 962=E9 2?5 42? H@C< 282:?] qC25=6J 2?5 w2CCJ {:A>2?[ H9@ :D E96 DE2E6’D |65:42:5 5:C64E@C[ D2:5 f_ A6C46?E @7 E96 A6@A=6 @? |65:42:5 6IA2?D:@? 5@ H@C<]k^Am
kAm%96 DE2E6 AC@8C2> 92D 2 H@C< C6BF:C6>6?E[ 3FE :E 92D ?6G6C 366? :>A=6>6?E65 3642FD6 @7 2 7656C2= 4@FCE 564:D:@? @FE=2H:?8 2 D:>:=2C AC@G:D:@? :? 2?@E96C DE2E6]k^Am
kAmqC25=6J E@FE65 E96 C65F4E:@? :? F?4@>A6?D2E65 42C6 7@C 9@DA:E2=D 7@C D6CG:?8 E9@D6 H9@ 42??@E 277@C5 E@ A2J 7@C E96 D6CG:46D E96J C646:G6] |2?J A6@A=6 H:E9@FE 962=E942C6 :?DFC2?46 FD6 9@DA:E2= 6>6C86?4J C@@>D[ H9:49 2C6 >@C6 6IA6?D:G6 E92? 92G:?8 2 A6CD@?2= 42C6 A9JD:4:2?]k^Am
kAmw6 ?@E65 F?4@>A6?D2E65 42C6 :D 2 9:556? E2I @? 6G6CJ@?6 H:E9 AC:G2E6 962=E9 :?DFC2?46 :? E96 DE2E6[ H9:49 72==D @? 3@E9 6>A=@J6CD 2?5 6>A=@J66D]k^Am
kAm$E6G6 p9?6?[ AC6D:56?E 2?5 rt~ @7 E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 w@DA:E2= pDD@4:2E:@?[ D2:5 9:D @C82?:K2E:@? 2?5 E96 DE2E6 92G6 366? A2CE?6CD D6CG:?8 E96 DE2E6’D >@DE GF=?6C23=6 A6@A=6 F?56C E96 AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAm“pD 2 C6DF=E @7 E9:D 4@G6C286[ E96D6 A2E:6?ED 2C6 23=6 E@ C646:G6 E96 C:89E 42C6[ 2E E96 C:89E E:>6 2?5 2E E96 C:89E A=246[” p9?6? D2:5] “xE :D 2? :>A@CE2?E :?G6DE>6?E :? E96 962=E9 @7 @FC DE2E6 2?5 E96 A6@A=6 H6 D6CG6]”k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 E96 2>@F?E @7 F?4@>A6?D2E65 42C6 92D 5C@AA65 7C@> S`fb >:==:@? :? a_`c[ E96 7:CDE J62C @7 E96 AC@8C2>[ E@ Seh >:==:@? :? a_a`]k^Am
kAm|2C< q@?E2 @7 vC66?7@@E p>6C:42 :? {:EE=6E@? 2?5 2 >6>36C @7 E96 3@2C5 @7 2 #64@G6CJ uC:6?5=J (@C<A=246[ D2:5 96 925 E@ 7:C6 2? 6>A=@J66 H9@ 42>6 E@ H@C< F?56C E96 :?7=F6?46 @7 2=4@9@= 2?5 5:65 2 76H >@?E9D =2E6C 3642FD6 96 4@F=5 ?@E DE@A 5C:?<:?8]k^Am
kAmq@?E2 D2:5 96 =2E6C =62C?65 E96C6 2C6 @E96C @AE:@?D E@ 86E 96=A 2?5 E96 A6@A=6 H9@ 8@ E9C@F89 E92E 92G6 2 DEC6?8E9 @7 492C24E6C E@ 362E 255:4E:@?[ E92E >2<6 E96> “E96 A6@A=6 x H2?E E@ H@C< 7@C >6]”k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 96 925 >@DE=J DF446DD :? 9:C:?8 C64@G6C:?8 255:4ED 3FE =:<6 >@DE 4@>A2?:6D E96C6 :D 2 E9C66\>@?E9 H2:E:?8 A6C:@5 367@C6 962=E9 36?67:ED <:4< :? 2?5 E96J ?665 E96 |65:42:5 6IA2?D:@? AC@8C2> E@ D66 E96> E9C@F89 E@ <66A 7:89E:?8 E96:C 255:4E:@?]k^Am
kAms@F8 |4}FEE C6AC6D6?E:?8 E96 }w $E2E6 r@>>:DD:@? @? p8:?8[ D2:5 E96 6IA2?D:@? H9:49 4@G6CD E9@D6 62C?:?8 `bg A6C46?E @7 A@G6CEJ =6G6= @C 36=@H 96=AD A6@A=6 36EH66? E96 286D @7 de E@ ec J62CD @=5] x7 D@>6@?6 :? E92E 286 8C@FA =@D6D E96:C ;@3[ :E :D G6CJ 92C5 E@ 7:?5 2?@E96C @?6 H:E9 E96 D2>6 A2J 2?5 36?67:ED[ 2?5 :?DFC2?46 4@G6C286 :D G6CJ 6IA6?D:G6[ 96 ?@E65]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 23@FE `d A6C46?E @7 E96 A6@A=6 :? E96 |65:42:5 6IA2?D:@? AC@8C2> 2C6 :? E92E 42E68@CJ] %96 AC@8C2> 2==@HD E96> E@ DE2J 962=E9J H9:=6 E96J =@@< 7@C 2?@E96C ;@3[ |4}FEE D2:5]k^Am
kAmzC:D |4rC24<6?[ rt~ @7 p>@D<628 w62=E9[ E96 =2C86DE 7656C2==J BF2=:7:65 962=E9 46?E6C :? E96 DE2E6[ D2:5 E96J AC:>2C:=J D6CG6 E9@D6 H:E9 =:>:E65 :?4@>6D 2?5 C6D@FC46D]k^Am
kAm$96 D2:5 @G6C d_ A6C46?E @7 E96:C A2E:6?ED 2C6 @? E96 6IA2?D:@? AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAm$96 E@=5 @7 2 A2E:6?E :? 9:D >:5 d_D[ H9@ H2D 2 4@?DECF4E:@? H@C<6C H:E9 5:236E6D H9@D6 DF82C =6G6=D H6C6 @FE @7 4@?EC@=]k^Am
kAmqFE 27E6C 96 H2D @? |65:42:5 6IA2?D:@?[ 9:D =6G6=D H6C6 >F49 36EE6C[ D96 D2:5[ 2?5 H96? 96 H2D 2D<65 H9J[ 96 D2:5 ?@H 96 4@F=5 277@C5 9:D >65:4:?6[ E@ 3FJ 9:D E6DE DEC:AD 2?5 5@ E96 E6DE:?8]k^Am
kAm}@H 96 :D ?@E 8@:?8 E@ =@D6 2 =:>3 @C 9:D 6J6D:89E[ |4rC24<6? D2:5[ 7C@> E96 :>A24E @7 2 49C@?:4 5:D62D6]k^Am
kAm“x7 ?@E 7@C |65:42:5 6IA2?D:@?[ H6 H@F=5 ?@E 36 23=6 E@ 96=A E96> 67764E:G6=J >2?286 E96:C 42C6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmsJ=2? z?@H=6D[ H9@ CF?D w@>6 $@36C {:G:?8 :? |2?496DE6C[ D2:5 96 8C6H FA :>A@G6C:D965 2?5 H2D @? |65:42:5 2D 2 <:5]k^Am
kAmw6 E@=5 E96 4@>>:EE66 96 H2D 2 8C62E DEF56?E 2?5 2E9=6E6[ 3FE 3642>6 255:4E65 E@ AC6D4C:AE:@? @A:2E6D 2?5 “76== @77 2 4=:77]” z?@H=6D D2:5 96 C646:G65 D6CG:46D 96 4@F=5 ?@E 277@C5 @? 9:D @H? E9C@F89 |65:42:5 6IA2?D:@? 2?5 E92E :D H9J 96 :D 2=:G6 E@52J]k^Am
kAm“%9:D :D ?@E DA64F=2E:@?[ E9:D :D ?@E 2 8F6DD[” z?@H=6D D2:5] “x <?@H E9:D H@C<65 C62==J H6==]”k^Am
kAmyFG6E E@=5 E96 4@>>:EE66 E96 3:== :D E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E 3:== @FED:56 @7 E96 3F586E 7@C ;@3 8C@HE9 2?5 E96 DE2E6’D 64@?@>J E9:D D6DD:@?]k^Am
kAm“%9:D 3:== :D :>A@CE2?E E@ E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 6>A=@J6C 4@>>F?:EJ[” yFG6E D2:5] “x7 :E 8@6D 2H2J[ S` 3:==:@? @G6C E96 3:6??:F> H:== ?@E 4@>6 :?E@ E96 DE2E6]”k^Am
kAm%96 4@>>:EE66 5:5 ?@E >2<6 2? :>>65:2E6 C64@>>6?52E:@? @? E96 3:==[ H9:49 :7 :E :?:E:2==J A2DD6D E96 w@FD6[ H:== 8@ E@ E96 w@FD6 u:?2?46 r@>>:EE66 7@C C6G:6H 367@C6 7:?2= A2DD286]k^Am
kAmv2CCJ #2J?@ >2J 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i82CCJ]C2J?@oJ29@@]4@>Qm82CCJ]C2J?@oJ29@@]4@>k^2m]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.