Westerman Wants Expanded Medicaid Funds To Fix Highway Shortfall
A measure filed Thursday by Arkansas's Fourth District Representative would direct expanded Medicaid funds to the ailing Federal Highway Trust Fund. Republican Bruce Westerman's bill would direct expanded medicaid funds to the Fund. The bill would lower the amount the federal government contributes to state Medicaid programs, expanded under the Affordable Care Act, by returning the federal matching rates to pre-expansion levels.
Westerman says this would generate 30 billion dollars a year for the Highway Trust Fund, which he says only needs 15 billion dollars to overcome a shortfall. The remainder would be put toward the national budget deficit. Rep. Westerman says he believes the president wouldn't veto the legislation if it passed.
"He has emphasized how he wants to see more transportation and infrastructure," Westerman says.