Landrieu, Jindal spar on Medicaid expansion

Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal traded jabs today over the proposed expansion of the Medicaid program in Louisiana, accusing one another of putting their career ahead of the interests of the state’s citizens. The barbs began shortly after Landrieu participated in a conference call to discuss a report released this morning that claims Louisiana’s economy and health care system would benefit from the state’s participating in the federal expansion of the Medicaid program as outlined by the Affordable Care Act. Jindal has steadfastly opposed participating in the expansion. “He just seems adamant about putting his political future ahead of the economic interest of the people of Louisiana,” Landrieu said during the conference call with reporters. “It’s his quest to be the next president and to check off the tea party ‘I am the most conservative person in America’ check list.” Jindal’s office shot back shortly after with a prepared statement, saying it “sounds like [Landrieu]’s gearing up for another campaign.” Despite his repeated claims to the contrary, Jindal is rumored to be among the leading Republicans considering a presidential run in 2016. Landrieu, for her part, is up for re-election in 2014. “The reality is, Medicaid relies on an outdated model that costs taxpayers billions of dollars for poor outcomes,” says Jindal, who again cited a Kaiser Family Foundation estimate that the expansion would cost Louisiana taxpayers more than $1 billion over 10 years. “Yet President Obama and his ally, Sen. Landrieu, would have you believe that a government program is good for economic development. It’s a fundamental philosophical difference. Senator Landrieu and President Obama believe that growing government will help grow jobs. That’s not how the economy works.”