CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Senate has voted down a bill endorsed by an interim legislative committee that would have allowed the expansion of the Medicaid program in the state.

The Senate voted 16-to-14 yesterday against considering a bill endorsed by the joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee. The bill would have allowed the use of Medicaid funds to pay private health insurance premiums.

Sen. Bernadine Craft, a Rock Spring Democrat, spoke for the bill. She says she's still hopeful the Legislature will approve some form of Medicaid expansion.

Casper Republican Sen. Charles Scott is chairman of the Senate Labor, Health and Social Services Committee. He says he doesn't' trust federal promises to continue to cover expansion costs and doesn't expect the Legislature to pass any other pending Medicaid expansion bills.

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