ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans are on the verge of making it even tougher for Georgia to expand a government health insurance program as envisioned by Democratic President Barack Obama.

The state Senate could vote as soon as Tuesday on whether to ban Republican Gov. Nathan Deal from loosening the rules on the state's Medicaid program so more low-income people can join it, unless lawmakers decide otherwise.

Republican leaders have said that Georgia cannot afford the long-run costs of allowing more people into the program. Democrats say it's the state's best chance to provide health care coverage for people who are too poor to afford subsidized care but are ineligible now for Medicaid.

Capitol police arrested several people Tuesday who protested in favor of Medicaid expansion in the Senate gallery.