Maine Equal Justice ~ MEJP ~ in court to support Medicaid Expansion

Dear Juliana,

Yesterday was a great day in court for Medicaid expansion. 

As you may know, the Mainers for Health Care legal team, led by Maine Equal Justice, our allies, and Mainers who are among the 70,000 newly eligible for care filed suit against the LePage administration for its failure to implement the voter-approved Medicaid expansion law. 

(If you missed it, watch our "See you in Court, Governor" video here.)

Yesterday, oral arguments in the case were heard in Cumberland County Superior Court. 

MEJP's Jack Comart and Tina Nadeau were live outside the courtroom yesterday morning--watch the video here.

As Maine Public reported, MEJP lead attorney Jamie Kilbreth argued that the LePage administration has a simple duty to uphold the law voters passed:

Kilbreth told Judge Murphy that the LePage administration was using the legislative stalemate over funding to procedurally veto a voter-approved law. "What this is all about is a backdoor attempt to do what the Constitution prohibits the governor from doing," he said. "The court should not enable that kind of behavior."

Kilbreth added that LePage has been a vociferous opponent of Medicaid expansion, vetoing legislative proposals nearly a half dozen times after pitched battles in the Legislature. Kilbreth says the law voters approved in November is clear: Medicaid expansion is the law and the governor's administration has to implement it.

This case continues to draw national attention because Maine is an example to other states working to pass expansion ballot initiatives. Because of your hard work and perseverance, nothing will stop us from seeing this fight for health care through to its finish when 70,000 Mainers finally get the coverage they need. We’ve taken the fight to the courts, we’ll be back in the legislature when the opportunity arises, and we’ll continue to raise our voices together in this effort and beyond. We’ve waited too long. The time is now!

What's next?

We expect a decision in the case in the next few weeks, though appeals may take longer. 

 MEJP and Mainers for Health Care will continue to work to implement the law and the will of Maine voters, whether in the courts or in the state house! Thousands of Maine people are counting down to health care, which shouldbecome available to them on July 2nd. That's why we are currently building a team of volunteers available to support those eligible for Medicaid Expansion so people know the process and their rights come July 2nd. It's time we assert our right to care.

--> Can you help? Sign up here to volunteer on our Medicaid Expansion outreach team!<-- br="">
We deeply appreciate all of your efforts on behalf of Mainers who need affordable access to care.

Wishing you a restful long weekend,

Kate Brennan, on behalf of Mainers for Health Care

P.S. Please help us support those who do have a right to apply for health care starting July 2nd. It is critical that people assert their rights in this way. Can you help? Sign up here to volunteer on our Medicaid Expansion outreach team!