NEW YORK (WBAP/KLIF) — As Governor Greg Abbott rolled out his platform for re-election, his challenger, former Dallas Co.Sheriff Lupe Valdez sat down with an NBC news crew in new york to talk about her campaign.
Valdez says if elected, one of the first things she’d do is accept the federal Medicaid expansion.
“We have 1.5 million people who are not on healthcare,” Valdez said. “That many could be put immediately on healthcare if we accepted the Medicaid expansion.”
Texas is one of 15 states that have not accepted federal dollars to expand Medicaid.
. Opponents, including Gov. Abbott, say accepting the funds would put too much federal oversight into the state finance system.
When asked about the strength of the economy, Valdez says not so fast.
“We talk about a healthy economy in Texas, all these jobs,” said Valdez. “Yes. I know people who are working two and three of them just to make ends meet.”
Valdez says the two things she would concentrate on if elected are strengthening public schools & revamping Medicaid. She says those are two issues that cross over party lines.
Valdez says she wants to encourage everyone to vote, and if you aren’t registered to do so before the election in November.
“If folks voted in Texas,” she said, “Everything would change.”
Robyn Geske, KLIF/WBAP, Copyright © 2018