Democrat supports Keating hospital plan

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The leader of the Oklahoma Democratic Party says he likes Governor Keating's plan to save rural hospitals. But Democratic chairman Mike Mass adds that the G-O-P governor is more

Wednesday, December 1st 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The leader of the Oklahoma Democratic Party says he likes Governor Keating's plan to save rural hospitals. But Democratic chairman Mike Mass adds that the G-O-P governor is more motivated by political considerations.

Keating has proposed spending 42 million dollars of the state's tobacco settlement on increased Medicaid funding. The governor says the increase would get the state 101 million dollars more in federal Medicaid funds. But Mass, who is also a state representative from Hartshorne, says Keating has been slow to recognize a rural health care crisis. Mass also says the governor is motivated more by getting Republicans elected to the state House.