U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint joined South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell on a conference call with reporters Wednesday to discuss what they say is the heavy financial burden the Obama health care plan will place on states like South Carolina. They want the state’s General Assembly to oppose the plan.

The Republicans say under the health care bill, South Carolina will add another 483,000 individuals to the Medicaid rolls, a 61 percent increase. All told, 28 percent of South Carolina residents will be on Medicaid and the state will incur over $900 million in new costs over the next ten years.

Instead of Medicaid, Graham wants everyone to be able to buy an insurance policy through the tax code. He says Medicaid expansion is not a good idea.  Graham says he is in favor of health care reform, but characterizes the current plan’s passage as a way to boost the president.

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