Public makes request of state lawmakers

Oconee’s state lawmakers heard calls last night for the state to reverse field and close the Medicaid gap and to do away with electronic voting.  About 25 people attended last night’s meeting of the county Legislative Delegation, and five people addressed the lawmakers.  Eleanor Hare and Rosellen Aleguire expressed similar sentiments.  They are suspicious of South Carolina’s electronic voting method and, for accuracy reasons, want a return to paper ballots.  Aleguire also decried public officials who, she says, are more interested in preserving their office than in helping the poor.  As an example, she said many needy individuals don’t qualify for the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare.  When she advises them to ask public officials to change the law, they don’t believe their opionion counts and it’s not worth the effort.  Reggie Turetsky, representing the League of Women Voters, called for the state to begin to accept federal money to close the Medicaid gap in the state.  Turketsky said, “I implore you to study comparable states like Arkansas and Kentucky who have saved enough state dollars by expanding their Medicaid programs to completely pay for their eventual 10 percent match.”