Here’s why the spending is growing so rapidly: The root of the problem is the infamous "Cornhusker Kickback" bribe that bought then-Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska's vote to get Obamacare over the line. Obama gave Nebraska 90% federal funding for Medicaid expansion.
When the corrupt deal saw the light of day, they saved themselves from the whiff of corruption by extending this treatment to all 50 states.
States are incentivized to sign up as many able-bodied, working-age adults as possible – at a 90% federal funding rate – and minimize the number of needy children, disabled people, and elderly in their Medicaid programs, which the federal government funds at an average of 57%.
As expected, federal Medicaid spending has soared:
