While making his first stop in Baton Rouge today since becoming president in 2008, President Barack Obama praised Gov. John Bel Edwards’ executive order to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, dined at Poor Boy Lloyd’s downtown and quashed any notion that his wife, Michelle, will run for president in the future.
As The Associated Press reports, Obama’s stop in Baton Rouge is part of his tradition of getting out of Washington, D.C., after delivering his State of the Union address. He visited Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday, the day after the speech. The White House says he wants to spend more time in the company of real people.
Before taking questions at McKinley High School this morning, Obama praised the decision by Edwards to expand Medicaid. Several hundred thousand Louisiana residents stand to benefit, according to Edwards’ office.
“He’s already delivering for the people of Louisiana,” Obama said of Louisiana’s new Democratic governor.
Edwards’ predecessor, Republican Bobby Jindal, had refused to expand the program on grounds that it would be too costly for the state. Obama said Edwards’ decision “shows you why elections matter.”
As previously reported, the Obama administration this morning released a new proposal that would sweeten the deal the federal government offers states that expand their Medicaid programs in a bid to persuade more to do so before the president leaves office.
Obama also urged Louisianans to support Edwards, who took office this week.
“He’s coming in a little like I came in … got to clean up some stuff,” Obama said, referring to his experience taking office during the worst economic downturn in generations.
In Edwards’ case, he faces a shortfall of more than $700 million for the remaining six months of the current budget year. The gap widens to an estimated $1.9 billion next year.
Obama also praised his wife of 23 years for her work to reduce childhood obesity, as well as her efforts with Jill Biden, the vice president’s wife, to help military families. He said he was certain she would stay active after leaving the White House, but he answered a question about a potential Michelle Obama run for presidency in the future with an emphatic “no.”
“There are three things that are certain in life: Death, taxes and Michelle is not running for president,” he said. “That I can tell you.”
