Governor ups pressure for Medicaid expansion

HELENA — Gov. Steve Bullock is increasing pressure on Republican lawmakers to accept federal money for Medicaid expansion.

The Medicaid health care program for the poor is funded primarily with federal money, along with some state tax money.

The federal health care reform offers states a big chunk of federal money to expand it further to low-income workers who don't have insurance.

But Republicans opposed to the federal program argue state costs for the program will eventually increase as federal money dries up.

The governor spoke to supporters of the expansion as lawmakers prepared to hold a Monday hearing on the plan.

The Democrat says he has been traveling the state talking about the program because he believes the current system is broken.