Ga. GOP wants vote to deter Medicaid expansion

ATLANTA (AP) -- Senior Republicans want to further block Georgia from embracing a Democratic health overhaul by requiring that a GOP-dominated state legislature approve any expansion of a government-funded health care program.

The proposal from House Speaker David Ralston, a Republican, would block Georgia's state government from allowing more people onto the state's Medicaid program unless the General Assembly approved it.

Gov. Nathan Deal has said he supports the legislation. The Republican governor has previously said that allowing more people onto Medicaid by raising the income cutoff would prove costly for the state's balance sheet in the long run.

House lawmakers have not yet debated the legislation. Democratic state Sen. Vincent Fort has said he believes the move shows Republicans are under pressure to expand Medicaid eligibility.