Ross Pounds Hutchinson On Private Option; Defends Tax Plans, LG Candidate

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Ross said he’ll fight to keep the private option and took exception to his potential Republican rival’s characterization that the Medicaid expansion plan was a “pilot program.”

“The more than 100,000 working Arkansans who now have access to health care or our struggling rural hospitals that are barely keeping their doors open – and I understand that because we lost the hospital in my hometown back in the ’90s – they don’t believe this is a pilot project,” Ross said.

Last week, Republican gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson expressed his support of the private option, calling it the “law of the land” and describing it as a “pilot program” that he’ll monitor and make reforms to if elected Governor.

“From day one, I’ve said I would have voted for the Medicaid expansion – the so-called private option, I would have signed it into law, and as Governor I will protect it,” Ross said. “Up until a few weeks ago, Asa Hutchinson’s only response to the media was that he was still reading it. This was not the authorization, this was the re-authorization, and this was passed a year ago. And a year later, he’s still reading it. Really?”

Ross – whose interview appeared on this week’s “Talk Business & Politics” TV program – also defended his tax cut proposals, a recent controversy including his choice for Lt. Governor, and the need for a landslide primary victory over surprise challenger Lynette Bryant.

Ross has proposed a tax cut to help manufacturers and income tax bracket reform – two initiatives that will ultimately cost more than $600 million from state revenues to implement. Ross said the cuts would be phased in and that he has not over-promised on the tax cut front.

“I think it’s very comparable to what Gov. Beebe proposed back in 2006 [with the grocery tax cut], and this debate is going a lot the same way,” he said, adding that he does not intend to propose any further tax reform proposals.

A recent court case and subsequent media attention involving Democratic Lt. Governor candidate John Burkhalter, whom Ross has endorsed and says will be his ticket-mate in the general election if he’s the nominee, brought to light allegations about Burkhalter’s business practices. Ross says he does not have concerns about the legal action or Burkhalter’s ability to serve in public office.

“I’ve reviewed that and read about it and it looks like to me it’s nothing more than ‘he said, she said’ and at the end of the day, the judge ordered that John receive more money than the guy making these wild accusations. I think it’s just sour grapes,” Ross said.

On his surprise primary challenge from Lynette Bryant, Ross said he welcomes her into the race and he contends that a low primary turnout or a closer-than-expected victory won’t be a signal of a lack of enthusiasm for his candidacy.

“I think that’s silly,” Ross said. “I think the Democratic primary, the Republican primary are two totally separate races from the races in November. I think you can unfortunately expect a relatively low turnout in both the Democratic and Republican primaries. I think we’ll see a very heavy turnout in the election that really matters – and that’s the general election in November.”

You can watch the on-air video interview, which includes footage of Ross on the campaign trail, in the first video below, or view the full extended interview with Ross at the second extended video below.