South Carolina Democrat slams Christie as hypocrite on Medicaid expansion

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Gov. Chris Christie (file photo)

(Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger)

A Democratic candidate for South Carolina governor has called out Gov. Chris Christie as a hypocrite after the Republican Governors Associate attacked the candidate for his stance on Medicaid expansion - a stance Christie himself has taken in New

Democrat Vincent Sheheen is the presumptive Democratic nominee and is set to challenge Republican Gov. Nikki Haley in the general election. In a recent attack add, the Christie-led RGA slammed Sheheen for advocating for the use of government dollars to expand Medicaid.

But the problem, according to Sheheen, is that last year, Christie, who is chairman of the RGA, actually made the decision to accept federal dollars for expansion in New Jersey.

In a letter to Christie, Sheheen asked for an explanation.

"You and I have the same position on this issue—keep our own federal tax dollars working for the people of our states," Sheheen said. "Then today, the Republican Governors Association, which you Chair, launched attack ads against me for taking the same position that you and seven other GOP Governors have taken on Medicaid expansion."

Sheheen asked the governor to show what sort of impact the federal money has had on the state, and if it was a positive one, rescind the attack ad.

"So please – provide us with the numbers on the impact that your choice to accept federal Medicaid dollars has had on New Jersey to clarify this matter once and for all, Sheheen said.  "And if, as you predicted, that choice to reclaim your state's tax dollars has benefited New Jersey, then I call on you to have the RGA take down this misleading attack ad."

A spokesman for the governor referred questions to the RGA.  In an email, a spokesman for the RGA did not address Christie's support for the measure, but continued the attack on Sheheen.

"Vincent Sheheen is an unapologetic supporter of ObamaCare, spokesman Jon Thompson said on an email. "It's no surprise he doesn't like the RGA's latest ad because he knows what many South Carolinians already know: ObamaCare is a bad law and it's costing families and businesses more of their hard earned money and jobs in the Palmetto State. No amount of fake outrage from Vincent Sheheen will disguise his staunch support for ObamaCare."

In a follow-up email asking about the RGA's position on Christie's support of Medicaid expansion, Thompson said every state is different.

"Republican governors have made it clear, ObamaCare is a bad law," he said. "Every governor has had to make the tough calls on what their states can afford, and what their states cannot afford, and every state is different. In South Carolina, the difference is clear, you have a Republican governor who opposes it, and you have a Democratic candidate who supports it."

During his 2013 budget address, Christie announced the plan to expand Medicaid using federal dollars.

"Accepting these federal resources will provide health insurance to tens of thousands of low-income New Jerseyans, help keep our hospitals financially healthy and actually save New Jersey taxpayers money," Christie said at the time.

In all, eight Republican governor's nationwide made a similar decision, despite opposition from conservatives, including potential GOP presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who called the expansion "not a very conservative proposal."