Texas House Voted Down Medicaid Expansion — Take Action

On Thursday night at the Texas Legislature, the House of Representatives had a chance to take a huge step to reduce our state's shameful uninsured rate and connect Texans to health care.

But they blew it. They voted down Medicaid expansion.

During debate on SB 30, the supplemental budget bill, Rep. Chris Turner offered an amendment to finally move forward with Medicaid expansion. As we’ve explained before, under Medicaid expansion, an estimated 1.4 million uninsured low-wage Texans would become eligible for Medicaid health insurance — covering far more people than any other health coverage policy the state could implement. 

The House blocked the amendment on a largely party line vote, 83 to 65, with all House Democrats voting for the amendment and all House Republicans — with a few exceptions — voting against it. (The exceptions: Rep. Ryan Guillen, a former Democrat, voted for it; Speaker Phelan sat out the vote, a tradition for Speakers on most votes; and Rep. Bryan Slaton, a far right Republican, was absent all day.)

We appreciate Rep. Turner’s effort and the support of the 65 legislators who voted for Medicaid expansion. And we’re deeply disappointed in the legislators who voted against the amendment.

While the House chose not to expand Medicaid through a budget amendment, there is still time for the Legislature to hold a hearing on one of the Medicaid expansion bills filed this session. 

Please contact the Legislature today to urge them to support Medicaid expansion — and let them know what you think about the House vote last week!

Thank you for keeping up the fight for Medicaid expansion!