By Luige del Puerto and Ben Giles | Arizona Capitol Times
Senate President Andy Biggs said Tuesday he would do “everything I can” to prevent Gov. Jan Brewer’s proposal to expand Medicaid from reaching the Senate floor for a vote.
Biggs, R-Gilbert, told Arizona Capitol Times that while he believes Brewer’s controversial proposal will get to a vote in the upper chamber, he won’t help it get there.
“I have said that I’m unalterably opposed to it. I believe it would do irreparable harm to the state,” said Biggs, who later added, “I will do everything I can to prevent it from going to the floor.”
As Senate president, Biggs holds the authority to schedule floor debates and votes and therefore can greatly influence the fate of the Medicaid expansion plan.
However, Biggs acknowledged the proposal could get to a vote even without his approval if a majority of senators maneuver to force a vote on the issue – in other words, if he gets “rolled.’’
