Medicaid decision pits governor against governor

He bristled at the notion, offered by Democrats, that he was only half-heartedly considering the option to appease political supporters, saying he would not "comment on other governors criticizing the governors who are taking their time to review this."

Democrats say the extra federal money attached to the expansion will prove too good for most governors to pass up, especially as Medicaid and other healthcare costs continue to soar. Under the healthcare law, states will be reimbursed 100 percent for anyone who enrolls during the expansion. That rate will eventually taper off, but only to 90 percent.

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, a Democrat, said Republicans will criticize the Medicaid directive but then accept the additional money.

"My guess is that they will beat up the president for passing a great bill until he's re-elected and then join up and take the money because they know it's the best thing for their states," he told Reuters.

COVERING MORE PEOPLE

Some states already grant benefits to more people than the federal Medicaid program covers and consider the Affordable Care Act a reprieve from costs they have shouldered alone.

"The Republicans don't really mean what they're saying. If in fact this law is enacted as of 2014, I urge every Republican governor who says they won't take the money after the election to resign if they end up taking the money," Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, said. "It's far beyond posturing. They're trying to impact a presidential election by telling untruths."

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