The rather bizarre Art Deco Louisiana state capitol building, in Baton Rouge.

As expected, newly elected Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, has signed an executive order to expand Medicaid coverage in his state under the Affordable Care Act. He thus fulfills a campaign promise set by the only Democratic governor in the Deep South.

In Louisiana, 298,000 uninsured adult Louisiana residents will be eligible for Medicaid under the expansion along with a additional 224,000 adults with private insurance .