Changes

At the start of his administration, Edwards ordered Gee to expand the state's [[Medicaid]] rolls.  "Under her leadership, we brought health care to more than 460,000 hard-working adults who now have access to the medical services they need to live healthier lives, to fight chronic illness and, in some  cases, survive." Edwards said.<ref name=ghilburn>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2020/01/06/louisiana-health-secretary-rebekah-gee-who-oversaw-john-bel-edwardes-medicaid-expansion-resigns/2825088001/|title=Louisiana Secretary of Health Rebekah Gee, who oversaw Medicaid expansion, resigns|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|accessdate=January 7, 2020}}</ref> [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Neely Kennedy]], a [[Republican Party|Republican]] critic of the Edwards administration, questioned Gee's spending of $200 million on ineligible  Medicaid recipients. Kennedy dubbed Gee "incompetent" and called for her resignation.<ref name=ghilburn/>  

At the start of his administration, Edwards ordered Gee to expand the state's [[Medicaid]] rolls.  "Under her leadership, we brought health care to more than 460,000 hard-working adults who now have access to the medical services they need to live healthier lives, to fight chronic illness and, in some  cases, survive." Edwards said.<ref name=ghilburn>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2020/01/06/louisiana-health-secretary-rebekah-gee-who-oversaw-john-bel-edwardes-medicaid-expansion-resigns/2825088001/|title=Louisiana Secretary of Health Rebekah Gee, who oversaw Medicaid expansion, resigns|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|accessdate=January 7, 2020}}</ref> [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Neely Kennedy]], a [[Republican Party|Republican]] critic of the Edwards administration, questioned Gee's spending of $200 million on ineligible  Medicaid recipients. Kennedy dubbed Gee "incompetent" and called for her resignation.<ref name=ghilburn/>  

In 2016, Benjamin Clapper, director of Louisiana Right-to-Life, questioned Gee's 2007 curriculum vitae while she was a clinical student at the [[University of Pennsylvania]] at [[Philadelphia]]. She delivered a speech in February 2003 at the  National Abortion Rights Action League, which is not listed in her 2012 resume with the [[Louisiana State University]] Health Sciences Center in [[New Orleans]].<ref name=mballard/> The Reverend Gene Mills, president of the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum, said that he found it "ironic that the most pro-life state [Louisiana] in the nation has received, somewhat in a clandestine fashion, a very aggressive advocate for the abortion position. I find that not coincidental."<ref name=mballard/> Mills also questioned the timing of Gee's resignation. A [[United States Supreme Court]] review of the Louisiana attempt to restrict abortion will be argued in the spring of 2020. Gee leaves her post on January 13.

In 2016, Benjamin Clapper, director of Louisiana Right-to-Life, questioned Gee's 2007 curriculum vitae while she was a clinical student at the [[University of Pennsylvania]] at [[Philadelphia]]. She delivered a speech in February 2003 at the  National Abortion Rights Action League, which is not listed in her 2012 resume with the [[Louisiana State University]] Health Sciences Center in [[New Orleans]].<ref name=mballard/> The Reverend Gene Mills, president of the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum, said that he found it "ironic that the most pro-life state [Louisiana] in the nation has received, somewhat in a clandestine fashion, a very aggressive advocate for the abortion position. I find that not coincidental."<ref name=mballard/> Mills also questioned the timing of Gee's resignation. A [[United States Supreme Court]] review of the Louisiana attempt to restrict most abortions will be argued in the spring of 2020. Gee leaves her post on January 13.<ref>Gene Mills, "Dr. Gee Resigns Before SCOTUS Hearing," Louisiana Family Forum, January 7, 2020.</ref>

 

Louisiana state Republican chairman Louis Gurvich hailed Gee's departure and urged Edwards to appoint "an official who actually shares his purported pro-life beliefs," which are "deeply held by the vast majority of Louisianans."<ref name=ghilburn/>

Louisiana state Republican chairman Louis Gurvich hailed Gee's departure and urged Edwards to appoint "an official who actually shares his purported pro-life beliefs," which are "deeply held by the vast majority of Louisianans."<ref name=ghilburn/>