DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald is urging Gov. Terry Branstad and state lawmakers to expand Medicaid in Iowa.  Fitzgerald, a Democrat, says Thursday that a Medicaid expansion would cost the state less than an alternate plan proposed by Branstad. He is basing his analysis on data from the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency and Senate Democrats.

Fitzgerald says he’s concerned about the state’s “fiscal health and how we spend our money.”  Senate Democrats have been pushing to expand Medicaid, as permitted under President Barack Obama’s health care overall.   Branstad opposes the plan. He says long-term Medicaid costs are unsustainable and has proposed expanding an existing program for low-income Iowans.