Governor Dave Heineman ratchets up the fight over so-called "Obamacare", as he forbids his state medicaid director from meeting with lawmakers.
Today the governor sent a letter, telling state senators that the state medicaid director will not attend a meeting with them.
That's because that meeting also includes groups supporting the health care expansion.
Heineman says his position is clear.
He told NTV, "The most important thing I'm concerned about right now is it contains unfunded Medicaid expansion and if the state of Nebraska were to go forward with that it would mean cuts to state aid to education to public schools, cuts to University of Nebraska and our community colleges or an increase in taxes. I oppose that."
While lawmakers talk about what may need to be implemented at the state level, the governor takes the fight to a national stage.
"We're looking at a variety of things," Heineman said. "We're also attending meetings of National Governor's Association, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, as we all try to carefully review what this means."
Senator Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha says it's time to "stop playing politics."
He's among a group of senators who say Nebraska needs to implement the president's law soon, despite the governor's position.
Via Twitter, Nordquist told NTV, "It's too bad that his administration is unwilling to have a serious policy discussion about Nebraska's health care system."
