Pa. Democrats Push For Vote On Medicaid Expansion

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - Democrats in the Pennsylvania legislature are pulling out all the stops in an effort to force a vote on expansion of Medicaid as part of the new federal health care law – something that Governor Corbett has so far resisted.

Democrats are vowing to take any opportunity to try to force a vote and one of those opportunities came in the state House yesterday. Democrats tried to offer a Medicaid amendment to the budget.

Delaware County Republican Bill Adolph, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee says, "I think that the amendment is premature."

Adolph argued that Governor Corbett is still negotiating with the Obama administration on Medicaid.

Allegheny County Democrat Frank Dermody, the House minority leader says, "We heard that there's still negotiating going on. Well, let me say this to you: delay costs every Pennsylvanian."

Democrats were thwarted in their effort to force a vote on the Medicaid amendment. The House, meanwhile, will vote as soon as today on a budget bill, even though the final form of the budget will be the product of negotiations that are still ongoing.