Texas has more residents without access to basic medical care than any other state in the country -- by a fairly significant margin. Gov. Rick Perry (R), for reasons that defy comprehension, is eager to keep it that way.
After writing a letter to the Obama administration declaring his intention to ignore the Affordable Care Act, the right-wing governor went on Fox News to explain, "If anyone had any doubt, we wanted to put it clearly to bed that Texas wasn't going to be a part of expanding socializing of our medicine. So we're not going to participate in any exchanges. We're not going to expand Medicaid."
On the exchange, Perry may not understand the policy details, but by refusing to create a marketplace where private insurers can compete for customers' business, he's simply inviting more federal control over Texas' health care system. Why the governor wants Washington to set up Texas' exchange for Texans remains unclear. For that matter, the fact that Perry thinks competition between private insurers is tantamount to "socializing" suggests someone might want to buy the poor guy a dictionary.
But it's the Medicaid decision that arguably matters most. Again, it's not at all clear if Perry understands the policy consequences of his posturing, but the Texas governor is effectively announcing that Texas hospitals will lose nearly $1 billion in funding for one reason: Perry wants fewer poor people in his state to be able to see a doctor.
Perry's "plan," in other words, is to make Texas hospitals and struggling Texas families suffer because he has an ideological axe to grind and may want to run for president again in 2016.
This is just madness.
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So, now Texas IS a Death Panel? Why doesn't he just come out and state his opinion plainly: Die, working poor people. Die, underemployed. Die, people who can only find 3 part-time jobs instead of one full-time one that has benefits. Die, people who became unemployed and took a low-paying job rather than accept unemployment. Die, Democrats. Die, serfs and proles. Who needs you?
"Texas... it's like a whole other country" (and we wish it were!!!!).
Why can't Texas secede already? I don't think anyone will argue to keep you.
I am proud to be an Ex-Texan. I lost my son to Texas wonderful health care system.
Oh my word, I am so sorry. This sent a chill through me as I have a small son on Texas' Medicaid. My heart goes out to you, take care.
I could be wrong, but I think the figure over 10 years would be something like 100 billion dollars? Here in GA, the figure I have read is we would get (or lose, thanks to our governor) is 45 billion over ten years. Surely the Medical Lobby will step up and start pressuring these governors??
The first two words of this headline says it all: PERRY BLOWS. He simply could not pour piss out of a boot with the directions printed on the heel.
I must say we all have access to health care, food, buying a home, we have access to anything we want, but this man didnt say access doesnt mean we can afford these things. I guess he has access to making stupid remarks on foxie snooze and I guess he can affored it. Oh yes they pay him most likely for making stupid remarks.
It's the same ol' thing, hostage-taking of innocent citizens in the interest of a demonstrably idiotic ideology. But perhaps it is time to call the bluff on these Rightwing yahoos. Pull the plug on Federal money for ACA and Stimulus going to them and re-direct it to states that want it. Then in a few years when tax revenues in states like Texas have plummeted because of the mass exodus of residents and businesses to other, less-moronic locales, maybe then reasonable people will finally have the leverage to overturn the actions of fools like Perry.
There is no ego larger, nor any self assessment grander than that of Gov. Blowhard's, (incessantly fed and encouraged by his also very, very highly self regarded wife, Anita).
Gov. Blowhard was humiliated by having his totally expected coronation for the the r nomination derailed by his own stupidity and incompetence. That means the gloves are off and there's nothing too mean or too stupid or too blatantly panderific to set aside as out of the bounds of decency or logic.
Gov. Blowhard now realizes that he must be a stalwart combination of his fellow destructobots, Brewer, Walker, Scott, LePage, Christie and Snyder. An amalgamation of a-holes as it were. Ain't nobody gonna outmean or outpander or outdestroy him. Him and Anita want to be prezdent of these d@mn United States and they're gonna do whatever it takes ta get there. An there idn't gonna be no more repeats of that bu11sh!t that happened last time.
Get ready my appreciated, though misguided, home state of Tejas. You are the proving ground for the new and improved and it ain't gonna happen again Gov. Blowhard. You are the statement that Gov. Blowhard is gonna make to the world that he's serious this time and ready for the big show and YOU WILL BE the proof in the pudding that clearly demonstrates there ain't nothing he won't do, say or destroy to get where, (in his and Anita's magnificent minds), he rightfully should, (and will), be.
So well put. We must destroy him politically before he destroys us
litterally.
Seems that the pious Perry is all about kicking in the teeth of those who are less fortunate.
Texas wanted to be it's own country and you know what? Maybe it should have been. It's given America George W. Bush and Rick Perry, that State has done enough damage.
The way I see it, this is simply another tactic by the GOP to try to set up an Obama policy for failure the way Republicans do by weakening bills, defunding agencies and initiating fishing expeditions, otherwise known as committee investigations. It seems clear to me the plan these GOP governors have in mind goes something like this:
Do absolutely nothing to set up the exchanges or cooperate in any way with implementing the Affordable Care Act, then:
1) When the federal government steps in to set up the exchanges for their constituents, start screaming "See - we told you Obamacare is a government take-over of healthcare!"
2) Next - here's how far Republicans will go to "hurt some people" -- I read somewhere yesterday they are now trying to get some lawsuits going that say that because of the way the law is written, subsidies can only be provided to those who purchase insurance through an exchange set up by the state, therefore, because GOP governors refuse to set up exchanges, their constituents are not eligible for help with their premiums. If they are successful with this tactic, they will then claim that Obamacare does nothing to control costs for the consumer and is not affordable (can't you just hear Mitch McConnell's faux-raged tones now?).
3) Having done absolutely nothing to implement the ACA, Republican governors will snipe from the sidelines about any problems with the federally-implemented exchange in their state (if there are none, they'll simply make up a batch of outright lies), and they'll campaign for re-election on "Obamacare has failed!"
It is basically just a re-do of how Republicans have operated to slow down the economy so that they can lay the blame at the Prez' feet. At this point, they're offering nothing but complete stagnation.
That's what republicans have to offer this country. That's what a person votes for when they vote republican. Good commentary. I hope you don't mind that I shared it on my facebook, as a comment under this article (citing "Comment on Maddow Blog" since I can't see your name. :P )
@ June, thank you, that was very well said.
I would only like to add that I can't BELIEVE people such as Mr. Benen are surprised. I kept reading articles (by lots of people) saying, "Oh, the governors will take it, it would be crazy not to," and I just shook my head-- has no one been paying attention? A showdown over a federally set-up exchange is EXACTLY the red meat they are looking for. Of COURSE Perry was going to turn this down, I can't imagine anyone surprised by this. If he had gone ahead and implemented all of ACA you could have scraped me off the floor, I'd be in such shock. But this? This is Governor Perry and the Yeehaw Squad. Could reporters and bloggers really be this unprepared for this? Or did they string us along with "surely not" to be able to pen "omg" posts later? I like your writing, Mr. Benen, but really, if you missed this coming, you might want to rethink your system.
Someone had to stand up and defend State's rights. I for one am grateful that we Texans have someone who is not willing to lead us like lambs to the slaughter.
And when your State is bankrupt and you come crying to the miserable State of Texas for jobs, please leave your elitist attitude at the door. And your poor driving habits.
Oh yes, for jobs at the biblical school textbook factory I'm sure.. Reality isn't hard it's the constant lying that's difficult!
You mean all those minimum wage jobs that preclude most people in the state to live either below, at, or barely above the poverty level? The jobs that don't offer health care benefits and pay so little that the good citizens in Texas can't afford to pay for health care?
If it's elitist to be frustrated that my inflated healthcare costs are paying for the millions of freeloaders (a large number who come from the Lone Star State) who use the emergency room as their primary care physician, and then default on their payments, so be it.
No, thanks. I think I'll keep my elitist attitude out of Texas.
Oh, please! The only jobs Texas has "created" recently are jobs stolen from California. Which, perhaps, explains why the presidential candidacy of a certain Texas governor went nowhere in that state.
Coming to a Texas school or workplace or basically anywhere a group of people may be. The infected person spreading the disease they didnt know they had because they couldnt afford to go to a Dr.
Knowlege is power???? That's not true. If knowledge were power, then Governor Perry would not be able to qualify as a janitorial assistant, he would have no health insurance, etc.,..,etc. It's all about the money.
When in a red state refuse to vote it doesn't count anyway, the voting machines are rigged anyway. Bring back the paper ballot.
That smug bastard. He'd soon be singing a different tune if he became indigent and then he or a loved one became seriously ill.
It is SO easy to be OH-SO-SMUG when you don't have to worry about paying your bills.
Allen Grayson (ex-Florida Congressman, who lost his seat to a Tea Party candidate who got outside funds to carpetbomb his re-election bid in 2010) had it perfectly on the floor of the House of Representatives. The Republican Healthcare Plan is simple:
1. Don't get sick.
2. If you get sick, die soon.
Governor Oops watched Representative Grayson when he presented the Republican plan, took notes, and is now following through.
Rick Perry: Big Cowboy ! No Pecker.
Well this is why Texas ranks worst in the nation in health care services and delivery, according to annual scorecard issued by the federal Agency for Health Care Research and Quality.
...
On the brighter side, Rick Perry has just saved the President's Affordable Care Act a billion dollars. He's just made it harder for Republicans to argue that the ACA is a budget buster.
Medicaid is for the disabled!
It looks like republicans have found a new way to obstruct progress. Their citizens are still required to pay the tax if they don't have health-coverage, but thanks to their state leaders, they don't actually get access to healthcare coverage.
This reminds me of Vietnam where our military offered free disease vaccinations, and then the vietcong amputated those arms of their citizens who had received the vaccinations.
Hey republicans, pigeon-holing your state-citizenry into a hostage-box, so that you can retain your state-level power over healthcare is morally depraved and self-serving, and ultimately disgusting.
Time has proven that few states have ever had the wherewithal to create meaningful/powerful/effective solutions like the Affordable Care Act.-Let your fingers off of the healthcare steering wheel, lest the proletarian class pry them off with a vengeance.
Once again, politicians are not as smart as we need them to be; or as smart as they think they are. Their ideologies are more important then the care and representation of their constituents. Rectify this at the ballot box.
Rick Perry is proof that you can be dumber than a box of rocks and still make sounds from your pie hole.
I am fortunate to have good health insurance that comes out of my checks, however I am completely in agreement that it is everyone's right to have health insurance. I know too many people that are friends that don't have it. Why should they be punished? The states like Texas and others should really consider their voters
The only thing Perry wants covered by insurance is lethal injection.
If mitt wins then democracy dies. If, in response, americans decide to head to Canada we will make your lives miserable. how on earth did americans become so feckless, weak and stupid?