HELENA — A procedural rules battle has begun after a House committee tried to kill the last-standing Medicaid expansion bill by heavily amending it and giving it an unfavorable report.
The Republican-led House Human Services Committee voted 10-7 along party lines to move Senate Bill 405 to the House floor Tuesday after a 4 ½ hour hearing.
House Minority Leader Chuck Hunter of Helena objected later in the day to the House accepting the adverse report, saying it violates a prior agreement involving bringing bills to the floor. The Rules Committee will decide Wednesday whether it was OK for Hunter to object.
Republican Sen. Ed Buttrey of Great Falls sponsored the measure, which would accept federal funds to expand Medicaid eligibility to low-income people but would require them to pay premiums and co-payments.