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Perry Reiterates Opposition To Medicaid Expansion

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry is reiterating in a visit to Washington that he won't expand Medicaid services in his state.

He says expanding the program will "bankrupt" the state and federal authorities are not allowing Texas the flexibility to modify the program.

Advocates of expanded services say an additional 1 million Texans could receive some level of health insurance coverage.

Hecklers critical of his stance on Medicaid disrupted his comments to a Republican group Friday. Perry counters that controlling spending is one reason Texas is attractive to new business. The purpose of his talk was to tout his state's economic and job growth.

Perry's comments on Medicaid were the first since Florida Gov. Rick Scott reversed course Wednesday and opted to accept additional federal funding to expand health coverage.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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