Oregon expanded Medicaid. Voters to weigh in on paying for it

Today's Brew gives the need-to-know facts on Oregon's Healthcare Insurance Premiums Tax for Medicaid Referendum, plus an update on how California's [Ballotpedia]( [View this email in your browser]( [The Daily Brew]( The 411 on Measure 101 Today, Oregon voters will vote by mail in a special election regarding the legislatively referred Healthcare Insurance Premiums Tax for Medicaid Referendum—Measure 101. A "yes" vote supports upholding certain assessments/taxes on healthcare insurance and the revenue of certain hospitals to provide funding for Medicaid expansion by approving five sections of House Bill 2391. The bill placed a 1.5 percent assessment on premiums that healthcare insurers earned and premium equivalents that managed care organizations and the Public Employees’ Benefit Board received, to provide funding for Medicaid. Measure 101 was intended to also repeal a 0.7 percent tax on the net revenue of hospitals to provide funding for Medicaid; however, there is disagreement between the legislative counsel and petitioners over whether the referendum would repeal this tax. Additionally, the measure would remove language permitting insurers to increase premiums on healthcare plans to cover the costs of the assessment. [Overview: Oregon Measure 101]( Share on:   [Facebook](   [Twitter](   As of January 2018, 32 states and Washington D.C. had approved Medicaid expansion, as was provided under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), while 18 states had not expanded. As of 2017, about 350,000 people received Medicaid under the expansion in Oregon. If states expanded Medicaid, the federal government would provide some funding, provided that states fund a percentage of the expansion. Oregon originally expanded Medicaid to individuals eligible under the ACA in 2014. The expansion was made possible by a budget bill (HB 5030) passed by the Oregon State Legislature in 2013. Measure 101 and the bill behind the measure was designed to cover the state's share of the costs of Medicaid expansion and, therefore, receive federal funds. HB 2391 was estimated to generate $673 million in state revenue and $1.9 billion from the federal government during the 2017-2019 fiscal year. Check back in with Ballotpedia later tonight for results. [States expanding Medicaid] [How much does your state spend on Medicaid?]( → Trump's judicial year in review Over the weekend, our newsletter, The Federal Tap, rounded up the data points behind Trump's first year in office. We've got some quick hits regarding the President's year in the federal judiciary.   - In the year since President Trump took office, 23 of his nominees to federal judicial seats have been confirmed by the U.S. Senate. - Within the federal judiciary, there are 145 judicial vacancies in life-term, Article III judicial positions. - As of this weekend, there were 43 pending nominations to life-term, Article III judicial positions. - Further, we expect 26 future vacancies to life-term, Article III judicial positions, with one pending nomination for a future vacancy. [A year in review]( → [Get judicial news straight to your inbox]( → Election roundup Voters are heading to the polls around the country today, with elections in Pennsylvania and California. - A guilty plea in charges related to a illegal gambling machine ring lead to today's special election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 35. Austin Davis (D) and Fawn Walker Montgomery (R) are vying for the open seat. - Less than one month after recreational marijuana sales became legal in California, Compton voters will decide on two competing measures concerning marijuana businesses. If both receive majority approval, the one with the most “yes” vote will supersede the other. - Also in the golden state, Hanford City Councilman Francisco Ramirez faces a recall election on January 23, 2018. Recall organizer Skip Athey accuses Ramirez of corruption and misusing public resources. [Today's elections]( → Ballotpedia depends on the support of our readers. The Lucy Burns Institute, publisher of Ballotpedia, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Donations to the Lucy Burns Institute or Ballotpedia do not support any candidates or campaigns. [Donate Securely Online]( Decide which emails you want from Ballotpedia. [Unsubscribe]( or [adjust your preferences]( →   [Facebook](   [Twitter](