Bipartisan Group Files Suit Against Expansion Of Medicaid In Montana

Students at Montana State University, an MSU employee, and a political committee
filed suit today in the Montana Supreme Court challenging I-170’s false fiscal statement. I-170 is the proposed ballot measure that would require Montana to participate in Obamacare’s expansion of Medicaid.

I-170’s fiscal statement claims that the measure would save Montana money in fiscal year
2017. Governor Steve Bullock’s Budget Office arrived at this conclusion by including anticipated increases in payments to Montana from the federal Children’s Healthcare Insurance Program. Montana will receive these payments, however, regardless of whether or not I-170 passes. Including increased CHIP monies (over $100 million) in I-170’s fiscal statement therefore violated both Montana law and common sense. Properly excluding CHIP monies from the fiscal statement shows that I-170 would cost rather than save Montana money in 2017.