Medicaid is a government #healthcare insurance program funded jointly by the Federal and state government, and North Carolina was being pushed to expand it. The Democrats were pushing for years to expand Medicaid to more Americans, especially low-income adults, while Republicans pushed back — for good reasons. A fundamental flaw with the program from the Republicans standpoint was funding of the program, not trusting the federal government to continue the 90% matched contribution.

Medicaid is unsustainable with rising costs of medical care and higher enrollment. The costs are projected to keep increasing without a plan to increase revenue or funding. In 1995, the net increase in seniors enrolled in Medicaid was 11.6%, but Medicaid nursing home expenditures rose by 75%. The math is undeniable, Medicaid is a ticking time-bomb.

The Democrats touted increased coverage as proof that it was working, however, they failed to mention just how much the costs were rising and just how much the national debt was ballooning, not to mention also, how badly the costs were outpacing the government's revenues.

North Carolina's Republican Senate leadership was holding strong against Democratic governor Roy Cooper's goal to expand, and Democrats pointed to the compromises reached by other red states like Kansas, Utah, Nebraska, and Idaho. However, there were also states which have refused expansion such as Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina. These states probably realized how disastrous funnelling money into this unsustainable welfare program would be.

Governor Cooper did not back down and vetoed a Republican-sponsored budget simply because it didn't include Medicaid expansion. Democratic legislators boycotted the floor as they learned the Republican majority would vote to sponsor the bill, which caused a rift between members of both parties.

The Republicans made their case, fearing that the federal government's plan to match 90% of the state’s funding would end, putting more financial burden on a state government that was already stretched thin. They also refused the proposal which allowed a $758 million assessment mandate on hospitals. Again, they stressed that it cost too much to maintain.

The state of North Carolina shouldn't succumb to the pressure. Rather, it should come up with practical solutions to provide private health insurance to its citizens at cheap rates.