Thank you for the January 10 article “Local legislators seek tax relief, budget stability in 2019.” It’s important for Kansans to understand their legislators’ positions as we head into the 2019 session.

I have a question/comment about something in the article. In the section on Medicaid expansion, the article states, “Although the federal government pays 90 percent of Medicaid expansion, both House members expressed concerns about how the state would pay for the other 10 percent, about $30 million to $80 million annually.” 

I’m wondering where you got the $30-80 million cost figures? These are not consistent with the fiscal note from last year’s Medicaid expansion bill SB38 and are an overstatement of the costs when savings and  new revenue are included. And it certainly does not include the impact of economic growth generated by adding nearly $700 million per year to the Kansas economy. Opponents of expansion often use exaggerated budget estimates to argue against this policy. It behooves us to check their math and their sources when they do.

— Sheldon Weisgrau, senior policy adviser for Alliance for a Healthy Kansas

Editor’s note: Although the $30 million to $80 million figure was not directly attributed in the story mentioned in this letter. The figures came from Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, who was interviewed for the story.