Editorial: Legislative candidates - Answer 'yes' when asked to expand Medicaid

Among the critical issues before candidates for the North Carolina General Assembly, there is one more than any other that commands a simple and direct response.

It isn’t some vast drain on the state treasury – the federal government has already designated the money. North Carolina taxpayers are helping fund expansion in those other states. We should have our federal tax dollars for Medicaid expansion working in North Carolina too.

Failing to expand Medicaid carries a HUGE cost to North Carolina – both in the health of our citizens and to the state’s economy. Every month the toll increases.

Since 2014:

The leadership of the North Carolina General Assembly -- specifically Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham and House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland -- could easily bring this neglect to an end. But their reflexive disdain for ANYTHING backed by former President Barack Obama prevents a change.

Only the loud voices of the voters, heralded from the ballot box, will bring about any change.

There is no legitimate excuse, no good reason, no justification not to expand Medicaid in North Carolina.

Every candidate for the General Assembly needs to let voters know where they stand on Medicaid expansion. Voters should support those who back it and reject those who don’t. Plain and simple.

See you at the polls.