Associated Press
As recently as July, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) was not at all fond of the Medicaid expansion policy in the Affordable Care Act. In a speech at a D.C. think tank, he called the Obama administration's policy "extortion."
That was last year. This year, the governor has found more to like about the policy.
Gov. Chris Christie will expand the state's Medicaid program to cover 300,000 uninsured New Jersey residents, The Star-Ledger learned today. [...]
As for his decision to expand Medicaid, the Republican governor, a critic of President Obama's Affordable Care Act, could reap up to $300 million by expanding the state program in the coming budget year.
For weeks, a coalition of labor, religious, family and consumer groups waged an aggressive letter-writing and media campaign encouraging Christie to expand the Medicaid program. Doing so, they argued, would allow 300,000 uninsured and childless people to apply for Medicaid.
Christie is now the eighth Republican governor to accept Medicaid expansion -- as recently as early December, there were zero -- and as Sarah Kliff noted, "Taken together, these eight states will extend Obamacare's coverage expansion to 3.2 million Americans."
Of course, the politics of this is hard to miss. Indeed, they're likely to be quite consequential.
To reiterate a point from earlier in the month, the way the Affordable Care Act is structured, Medicaid expansion is a great deal for states, and should be a no-brainer for governors who care about lowering health care costs, insuring low-income families, improving state finances, and helping state hospitals.
The result was something of a test for Republican governors: does ideology trump arithmetic? Given Christie's ambitions, it was far from clear which way the governor would go. Fortunately for his constituents, he made the right call.
In the process, however, it's going to be very difficult for him to overcome the "helped expand Obamacare implementation" line on his resume, should he ever find himself in a competitive Republican primary.
Leave a Comment:
".... and should be a no-brainer for governors who care about lowering health care costs, insuring low-income families, improving state finances, and helping state hospitals."
And since when has "care & consideration" for anyone other than their 2% pimps come into play? For the GOTP reality is whatever they say it is.....
Beat me to it.
It seems to me that Christie established during and after Sandy that he does care about his constituents and will defy the party to take care of his constituents.
And people wonder why Christie didn't get invited to CPAC?
I think he finally caved when they didn't invite him i.e. "fine screw you I'll try and get the moderates and the ones who hate democrats with a passion will have to vote for me anyway over Hilary"
That may not be such a bad thing for him. When you see the other people on the speaker list, there is such a plethora of morons and idiots that being associated with them may be a knife stab into any national ambitions.
I am glad to see this and I hope that the remaing GOPT governors get on board.
Thanks for just saying something positive when a person does something positive. I promise, there's at least one person who appreciates it! :)
There's no downside for him. If things work out he can take credit for the health care system in NJ. If not Obama forced it on him. Republicans eat that stuff up. His preparation for the 2016 campaign will consist mostly of coming up with snarky comments about Dems and pathetic reality show contestants.
Notice that in the Democratic primary all of the candidates would have made good presidents but in the Republican primary NONE of the candidates would have made a good president. Why are we supposed to act like any of these bozos are even credible on the national level.
Maybe the folks over at CPAC know that having Christie there would tarnish his image, and if they want him to have any hope in 2016 they don't want that to happen. In the mean time they have all the losers showing up to stir up the base and encourage donations from the radical right, or am I giving them too much credit for being smart, we already know that they are sneaky.
Ron Paul? If you looked at his policy stances, I think most people would like him. People only tend to focus on the newsletter scandal, or they disagree with his view on economics and the role of government. He did predict the financial crash of 2007, the housing bubble, and he's against the over-reaching Patriot Act, NDAA '12, FISA, as well as the wars. He also thought you should be able to smoke weed if you want, unless your state government chose to outlaw it. If you disagree with me I just ask that you back up your argument with constructive criticism of his policy stances. I'm a major Paul supporter, and I've found that most tend to criticize him with things they've heard, never things they've looked into and found out for themselves. (Apart from my friend who is a die-hard Keynesian. We disagree on a lot of things, lol. I enjoy the conversations and different takes on things though.)
All you have to do is look at his economic policies, which I notice you don't wish to bring up and enumerate, to see that all the b.s. side issues you brought up are irrelevant.
Go back and repeat Middle School, you paulie fairy.
The progressives' love fest for Christie is getting out of hand. Expanding Medicaid is absolutely the right thing to do. But did Christie change his mind for the greater good or is it more about his re-election prospects in blue New Jersey?
progressives' love fest with Christie. Since when and why wasn't I told?
probably some of both. after all, he actually has to govern over in a place like NJ. and if anything, he's been showing he can do what he needs to govern while remaining conservative. if anything, the Tea Party side of the GOP is probably scared that he's doing well compared to any of them, and if he wins again in NJ, then we may see Chris Christie run away with the nomination in 2016, and actually have a chance in the general of winning, without needing the Tea Party to do it. And that would make the tea party totally go off the deep end to the point of super-nova.
I'm still waiting for him to switch parties. All he needs is another knife in the back or rug pulled out from under him by the Republicants!
Remember, you heard it here first!
As if the Democrats would take him, given all his other policy positions.
We did indeed hear it here first, that Pauly Heins is an idiot.
This is, indeed, good news for New Jersey residents. Now, if Christie could only be convinced to support the construction of the new tunnel to New York ...
Perhaps this is actually so that he can appear as a centrist republican for the next Presidential Election.
See the problem with the Republican and Obama Care is that they need it to stop it before it came into effect, now one by one are falling in line, because they know that it is a good program.
Hey, maybe it's time for Christy to do something historic...and take the rational end of the Republican Party (dare I say the more liberal end?) in another direction. Split the GOP in two...because there are enough moderate and liberal Rebublicans who are fed up with the Conservative tea baggers. And I bet Christy would give the Conservatives a run for their money in the 2016 primaries...or maybe he should just start a new "Whig" party and call it the "21st Century GOP."
A more likely outcome would be for Christie to declare himself an Independent or Democrat before winning reelection.
Barring a sex scandal involving children and farm animals, he will win reelection no matter his party affiliation. As a pro-choice politician that believes in making government work he obviously has no place in the GOP, and shedding that label will help his political future in New Jersey.
Senator Christie, anyone?
One more tax dollar eating program from the leftwingnuts...
Just love how the liberals sell this monster.
According to the left insurance will cure everything...
Insurance is nothing more than the transfer of risk!!!
It can not keep you alive!
Furthermore, healthcare starts at the kitchen table, not the operating table..
Maybe if we were not a country of fat lazy over weight slobs, the cost of healthcare might be lower..
To ho-lee-cow: Some folks' kitchen tables aren't privileged enough to only serve wholesome food, however. And with possible cuts in the WIC program, even more people will have a difficult time feeding their families with better food choices, which are inherently more expensive. These are the same folks who will benefit with expanded medicaid. The ability to get prompt medical care is of benefit to the individual and to society in reducing costs and increasing productivity.
Absolutely true, but look at the resistance Michelle Obama has encountered trying to advance a healthy living agenda that consists of eating properly and exercising regularly. People would rather push the envelope by grabbing the cheetos, hanging out on the sofa, and eschewing exercise of all kinds. Then when their lifestyle choices catch up with them, they want to blame the cost of the heart transplant on"big government."
A just for fun note from my blog this morning:
POWER OF AN OBAMA KISS
Chris Christie pays the price. I just heard this morning that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has been “excommunicated” for the Republican Party—he has not been invited to be a speaker at Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC). He should have learned from Florida Governor Charlie Crist. Both committed the sin of putting an arm around President Obama. Obama represents everything a true Reince Priebus, Paul Ryan Eric Cantor Ay Rand Republican hates: he has a progressive political agenda, he is for the working class, he is black, he is pro-choice, he is all of these things but most hateful of all for them, he is the best president we have ever had—they turn envy into hate.
It is bad that they will not answer his phone calls or respond to his invitations to the White House. Think of the power this gives Obama. He could put his arm around Paul Ryan and ruin him for 1,000 years. Better yet, and I wish he would do it; he could hug Reince Priebus and give him a big wet kiss. Glory, glory, glory . . .
I'm sorry, yet for a phethora of reasons, I cannot trust Gov Christie! Yes, he may 'appear' to be on the president's side, yet it's apparent that the only side that he has always been on,,,is his own! Other than his embracing President Obama and not mentioning Romney's name that much during his keyniote speech for the GOP conmvention.. Keep in mind, that the state of 'New Jersey' has a below-average unemployment rate, and that Gov Christie has severe control issues! As evident by his out-spoken aggressive behavior. Not at all a presidential demeanor. Don't be fooled by the 'act that his is showing us now, because it will change at the drop of a hat!
He is healed! He is healed! Good lard, he is healed!
Rinsed Penis might really like that!!
@ho~Insurance can keep you Alive? The Guns Over People Party is Very Excited and Soon many will be without Food~Over 600,000 Pregnant Women on the Wic Program(Does a Good Diet matter even after these Babies are born)? Meals on Wheels for the Elderly will be cut, I guess many more will be going Hungry if the (Um Christian?)GOP have their way on Friday but at Least there wont be as many fat, lazy, overweight slobs right ho? Christie is doing the "right thing" for the people in NJ so of coarse, hes not invited to their little conference. I guess Youre feeling the effects of Bush~Chey putting the Cost of their Iraq War on a credit card.
Eight and growing!!! :) Sharing on The Platzner Post Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/ThePlatznerPost, and Twitterhttps://twitter.com/ThePlatznerPost.
I wonder how many times health care providers have told these republican governors "take the money, you moron." This should not even be an issue for these governors and they are making themselves look foolish.
When Brewer in AZ wants it but the legislature does not want to let her have it. I thought that it was her decision alone. Talk about hell freezing over.
No fear here in the Mississippi of the Midwest (otherwise known as Indiana)! The repuke senators passed a bill today to become eligible for the federal Medicaid funding, but Governor Mike '2nd stupidest person of the face of this planet' Pence has assured the Koch brothers that he will veto it.
This just in from National Review, Christie snubbed by CPAC because of limited future with the GOP.
Christie really exemplifies "straight talk" so he may be able to overcome right wing attacks in primaries by talking straight to voters about the realities of governance. One can hope anyway.