COLUMBUS, Ohio – As promised, opponents of Gov. John Kasich’s Medicaid expansion are going to court to try to stop it.
Two anti-abortion groups and six Republican lawmakers are suing the state over a move to fund an expansion of the healthcare program for poor residents.
The Kasich administration brought the funding request to the state’s Controlling Board, bypassing the full Legislature. The seven-member panel cleared the expansion money on Monday.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday with the Ohio Supreme Court by the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law argues the board violated the Legislature’s intent by approving the expansion dollars.
Taking part in the lawsuit are House GOP lawmakers who signed a letter protesting the move, as well as Cleveland Right to Life and the Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati.
Ohio Right to Life supported Medicaid expansion.
In the state budget passed in June, majority Republicans inserted a provision to bar the Medicaid program from covering the additional low-income residents. Kasich vetoed the item.
Expansion supporters say the ultimate legislative intent is what becomes law.
Kasich officials have said the board has the authority to grant the request.