A new statewide poll shows there's hope for Republican Governor Corbett, whose job performance ratings have been at historically low levels for months.
The survey indicates Governor Corbett's vision for health care could win over some sorely needed voters in advance of next year's gubernatorial election.
Among respondents to a Franklin and Marshall Poll, support is high for expanding the state's Medicaid program to hundreds of thousands of low-income Pennsylvanians using federal money. Corbett hasn't proposed to do that.
Instead, the governor's own plan is to extend health insurance to low-income Pennsylvanians through federally subsidized private insurance plans.
Poll director Terry Madonna notes the plan has the support of 72 percent of voters surveyed.
"That's more voters than say they like the traditional Medicaid expansion program. So that's a winner with the voters for Tom Corbett. Translation, take that message to the voters," said Madonna.
The governor announced the plan in late September. It includes changes to the state's Medicaid program, such as work search requirements for recipients.
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The federal government still has to weigh in, but a similar proposal in the state of Arkansas received approval last month.
This story was reported through a news coverage partnership between NBC10.com and NewsWorks.org
