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Governor Corbett Negotiating The Politics Of Medicaid

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) _ Five Republican governors, including Ohio's John Kasich and Michigan's Rick Snyder, are embracing the promise of generous federal funding for a massive Medicaid expansion under President Barack Obama's sweeping health care law.

It's the opposite for Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett. Why?

Well, there's the politics. The Medicaid expansion is despised by the Republican Party's conservative base and Corbett's already being attacked by one potential primary challenger next year.

Corbett has left the door open to reconsider his decision, but the clock is ticking.

Federal money for the expansion becomes available to states next year, just a few months before Pennsylvania's primary.

In the meantime, Corbett, like some other Republican governors, is pressing for more flexibility to customize Medicaid plans for people before he'll go along with the expansion.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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