In Md. gubernatorial debate, Democrat defends his role in botched health marketplace

Anthony Brown, the state's lieutenant governor who oversaw the development of the state's online insurance marketplace, acknowledges the technical problems but points to tens of thousands of Marylanders who now have health insurance.

The Washington Post: Anthony Brown, Larry Hogan Trade Attacks In 2nd Maryland Gubernatorial Debate
Democrat Anthony G. Brown and Republican Larry Hogan on Monday sharply questioned each other's credibility on economic issues and managing state spending, part of a gubernatorial debate that also included attacks on gun laws, funding for pre-kindergarten and Maryland's troubled health insurance exchange. … The candidates also sparred over Brown's role in Maryland's botched rollout of its online health insurance exchange. The issue was not mentioned when the men debated in Baltimore last week, prompting Hogan to complain about the moderators (Wagner, 10/13).

In addition, the AP reports on Medicaid developments in the Wisconsin gubernatorial contest -

The Associated Press: Liberal Group Says Insurance Money Swayed Walker
A liberal advocacy group is accusing Gov. Scott Walker of rejecting a federally funded Medicaid expansion because of donations he gets from the insurance industry. Walker tightened Medicaid income qualifications, forcing about 87,000 off Medicaid and onto the private marketplace, where they can purchase federally subsidized plans. The group Citizen Action of Wisconsin said Monday that those insurance companies stood to profit from the influx of people into the private market and rewarded Walker with campaign donations. An analysis by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign shows that Walker received nearly $1.3 million from the insurance industry between 2009 and 2013. That is more than three times how much Walker's Democratic predecessor Jim Doyle received (10/13).