A Maine judge ruled that outgoing Republican Gov. Paul LePage must implement the Medicaid expansion approved by voters in 2017, according to The Hill.
Mr. LePage has fought expansion ever since it was passed, arguing the state could not fund the program. After a lengthy court battle, Maine Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy ordered that the rules for expanded Medicaid must be established by Dec. 5.
"Although the governor may believe implementation to be unwise and disagree with the act as a matter of policy, he may not ignore the will of the people and refuse to take any action toward accomplishing the policy objectives of the act,” Judge Murphy wrote in her opinion.
Mr. LePage will step down as governor in January due to term limits and be replaced by Democrat Janet Mills, the state's former attorney general.