Congressman Ralph Abraham and businessman Eddie Rispone, the two Republicans running against Governor Edwards in this year’s governor’s race, showed some differences in policy approach following a a business round table discussion hosted by the Republican Governor’s Association. Abraham says if elected he would not undo the Medicaid expansion, but it would be reformed.
“Nobody is going to get kicked off the roll, but are we going to make this program better for the tax payer, and those that need the program? Absolutely, and that’s just good, common sense economics.”
Abraham says his experience as a rural doctor would help guide his decisions on Medicaid reform.
Rispone had a different plan though. He agreed the expansion should not be rescinded, but says considering reports of improper spending in the Medicaid program, he would put a hold on new applicants until the Department of Health could rectify it’s problem with ineligible recipients on the rolls.
“I would immediately step in there and freeze it, so we could get in there and figure out what is going on and see why we spend 85 to 200 million dollars more than we should ahve, and make sure that we have a system in place that is implemented properly.”
Rispone says a freeze on new applications would only be temporary, until a review of the program could be completed.
Both candidates agreed there needed to be some form of teacher pay raise, but they differed on how it should be put in place. When asked about a proposed 5,000 dollar Texas teacher pay raise, Abraham says a Bayou State version is long overdue, and that he’d pay for it with tax reform.
“That could be done going back to tax reform, and TORT reform, reinvest this money into education and so many other things we could be investing in.”
But Rispone, who was heavily involved in education issues at the Capitol before his candidacy, disagreed with giving all teachers a raise. He says not every educator has earned the income bump, and he’d rather let local school systems determine who should see a bigger paycheck.
“This giving raises across the board is not where it needs to happen. The Superintendents want to reward based on performance, skill level, and demand,” said Abraham.
