Houston lawmaker asks: 'What's Medicaid?'

[babylonsister]

http://www.statesman.com/search/content/region/legislature/stories/03/21/0321dome.html

Houston lawmaker asks: 'What's Medicaid?'


Give state Rep. Gary Elkins some credit for being honest.

At a hearing Thursday of the House Committee on Human Services, Elkins and other members of the panel considered more than two dozen bills related to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Three hours into the hearing, Elkins asked: "What's Medicaid?"

The Houston Republican continued: "I know I hear it — I really don't know what it is. I know that's a big shock to everybody here in the audience, OK."

He could have kept quiet. He could have asked an aide. He could have Googled it. Instead, he asked the question into the microphone in the middle of a public hearing.

Medicaid, for the record, is the federal-state health insurance program for low-income people and people with disabilities. Elkins is new to the Human Services Committee. However, he's served in the House since 1995, where one of the main tasks is crafting the state budget.

A quarter of the state budget is Medicaid.

— Corrie MacLaggan

[sonias]

1. Great post by former Reprsentative Glen Maxey on BOR

BOR Diary Rep. Gary Elkins Asks, "What's Medicaid?"
Why am I not shocked?
During Gary's amost 16 years in office, he's probably cast several hundred votes on Medicaid issues. Not one, or two, but HUNDREDS. And almost without exception he voted to harm children, the disabled and the elderly.

Worried about the safety net? Gary always voted to cut the ropes on the net.

But he surely doesn't have to ask "What's a pay day loan?" since that's the business he's in.

God help us.

And I'll add this link to the population analysis from the state's web site for his district 135. The data is old - circa 2000 which means his district is probably changed even more. 40% of the people in his district make 50,000 or less.
7.1% of the population in his district are families with children who live in poverty.
6.6% of the population in his district are elderly 65+ who live in poverty
9.0% of the population in his district are households whose income includes social security.

Income and Housing Dist 135

:grr:


Sonia