Topeka ? The Kansas governor’s race heated up Monday over Medicaid funding.

The leading Republican candidate, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., earlier this month voted against a bill that would provide approximately $130 million to Kansas for health care.

Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, who also is running for governor, said that vote shows Brownback is out of touch with the needs of the state.

“This demonstrates what we’ve seen time and time again: Sam Brownback has no concept on how to balance the state budget,” Holland said. “The Washington way of always saying ‘no’ and never offering solutions won’t work in Kansas.”

Brownback said he voted against the proposal because it “was fiscally irresponsible and was not offset.”

Brownback stated, “We already have a record deficit of $1.56 trillion this year and this bill would have added over $100 billion, which is grossly unfair to our children and grandchildren.”

The bill in question contains an extension of unemployment benefits, plus continued extra funding to help states pay for Medicaid. In Kansas, that provision may mean an extra $130 million.

In the U.S. Senate, the measure was approved by an overwhelming number of Democrats and some Republicans. Both Brownback and U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., voted against it.

In the Kansas Legislature, Republicans and Democrats are hoping to get the $130 million in increased federal funding to help balance the state budget. Legislators are looking at a nearly $500 million revenue shortfall for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

The Kansas House GOP budget proposal, which will be debated this week, depends on the increased federal Medicaid match.