The Legislative Council voted today not to appeal a decision that upheld Governor Bill Walker’s action to expand Medicaid eligibility in the state. The vote ends the lawsuit less than a week after a separate court decision ruled that the House can’t take over the appeal from the council.
The council voted nine to five against pursuing the appeal. Every senator on the council except for Eagle River Republican Anna MacKinnon voted not to appeal.
Walker’s administration cited state law that requires Alaska to expand Medicaid to meet federal standards. In the lawsuit, the Legislature argued that since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the federal government can’t penalize states that don’t expand Medicaid, Walker overstepped his authority in the expansion. But Superior Court Judge Frank Pfiffner disagreed.
Andrew Kitchenman is the state government and politics reporter for Alaska Public Media and KTOO in Juneau. Reach him at akitchenman@alaskapublic.org.
