Obamacare Momentum Spreads as Even a Georgia Republican Argues For Medicaid Expansion

[babylonsister]

So self-interest might turn this around, not any concern for their constituents. Got it.

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/03/21/obamacare-momentum-spreads-georgia-republican-argues-medicaid-expansion.html

Obamacare Momentum Spreads as Even a Georgia Republican Argues For Medicaid Expansion
By: Jason Easley
Friday, March, 21st, 2014, 2:12 pm


Georgia state Sen. Chuck Hufstetler has broken with his party by admitting the truth. The Republican refusal to expand Medicaid in places like Georgia is hurting their states.

Video @ link~

A few choice quotes from Hufstetler’s nearly 10 minute presentation:

snip//

I believe this transfer of wealth is going to hurt Georgia as numerous studies by Kaiser, the University of Georgia, and Georgia State have pointed out. Our stance is hurting our state, but we’re not lowering the federal deficit. I just don’t believe that it’s consistent, after sending the Medicaid Financing Act last year to the Department of Community Health and the executive branch – that we now want to take control of Medicaid expansion, as we go into recess for the rest of the year, without a single hearing on Medicaid expansion in the last two years….

I am concerned that my party is going to lose thousands of health care workers and independent voters over this. The majority of Georgians do oppose Obamacare, but six out of 10 believe we ought to expand Medicaid. There is a difference between the two.

Hufstetler was the only Republican to vote for the Medicaid expansion bill, which passed 35-19.

What that state senator was expressing was a bit of common sense. Red states that are refusing to expand Medicaid are hurting their own citizens, costing their taxpayers money, and denying themselves needed funds for strictly political ends. States that don’t expand Medicaid are putting their healthcare system under the gun. They cost themselves millions of free federal dollars.

At least one Republican has awakened to the political reality that the ACA isn’t going anywhere, and that Republicans are only harming themselves and the uninsured in their state by refusing to expand Medicaid. The ACA is helping the economy to grow. It is leading more personal income and spending. The ACA is helping to fuel a boom in the healthcare sector of our economy.

Anybody who wants to miss out on all of this for the sake of political symbolism is an idiot who doesn’t deserve your vote in November.

Republicans are starting to wake up to the fact that fighting against the popular parts of Obamacare could cost them their jobs.

[Jefferson23]

1. Finally. K&R

[Glitterati]

2. It was a nice speech

But, is sure as hell didn't discourage even ONE legislator from passing the bill to nullify ACA.

Not one.

And, yes, they passed it. At midnight, moments before sine die.

After an extraordinarily eventful day that stretched well into the night, the General Assembly on Tuesday passed two bills that, in effect, deploy a large sign at the state line saying: Obamacare not welcome here.

The first piece of legislation, House Bill 990, gives the Legislature the authority to decide whether the state should expand its Medicaid program, a power that currently resides with the governor. The second, HB 943, goes farther, barring any state or local governments, agencies or employees from advocating for Medicaid expansion, except under certain circumstances, or from creating a health insurance exchange.
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/legislature-keep-obamacare-out-of-our-statetwo-bil/nfGXm/

[mucifer]

3. Here in Illinois the media is blanketed with Pro ACA commercials

They call the program "Get Covered Illinois"

It's very clever.

It will get more people enrolled.

It will also vaccinate some democratic politicians against future anti Obamacare adds.

[Thinkingabout]

4. Maybe he did not want a personal billboard.

It is the smarter move, perhaps if he can get medicare expansion in Georgia many more will have access to health insurance.

[Glitterati]

5. Not. Gonna. Happen.

See my post above about the legislation that was passed.

The billboard is far more likely to read Obamacare not welcome here at the state borders.

[Thinkingabout]

6. Actually I was referring to the MoveOn.org billboards in place in Louisiana telling

people why they are not able to get insurance is because medicaid was not expanded.