Another ‘Red’ State Admits They Were WRONG About Obamacare, Quietly Accepts Medicaid Expansion

Remember earlier this year, around the time news of the ACA roll-out’s success were starting to trickle in, when Republicans finally started revealing their true fears about it?

Rand Paul summed it up nicely:

“People get assumed and accustomed to receiving things, particularly things that they get for free.”

Or, to paraphrase: “We’re terrified people will like it, and then we’ll all look like idiots.”

After the roll-out, fully half the states in the U.S., all of them controlled by Tea-baiting GOP lawmakers refused federal funds to expand Medicaid in their states. A good move from a political demagogue’s point of view…maybe not so much for the people of those disproportionately impoverished states, who were left asking, “Why are we still dying because you won’t give us the medical care we’re legally due?”

Of course, those with any degree of reason knew that that wouldn’t last forever, especially considering the fact that most of the poorest states in the Union are controlled by the GOP. Arkansas and Iowa were among the first opt-out states to opt back in under pressure from the public, adopting modified “private option” plans that can utilize the Medicaid money offered by the Fed to pay for or subsidize private insurance.

Now, Tennessee is looking to join that group, among three other red states including Pennsylvania planning on doing the same.

As reported by The Tennessean, Republican governor, Bill Haslam, is in the process of submitting a plan to the HHS (formerly controlled by FEMA Death Marshall Kathleen Sebelius) to utilize Obamacare dollars in a manner similar to Arkansas and Iowa’s Private Option plans.

Evidently, the pressure from 150,000-plus poverty-stricken Tennesseans who need healthcare has proven slightly more powerful than the nonsensical screams of those Tea Partiers who put this guy into office.

Undoubtedly, this swing among Tennessee and GOP states like it is indicative of a larger trend, and you can bet it’ll be a feather in Obama’s cap. After all, there’s no better political tool than a willing defector. Fair enough. But for our part, we welcome Tennessee, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Iowa and states like them to the civilized world.*

*”Civilized world” obviously not including Florida, currently controlled by Medicaid scam artist and TeaLord Rick Scott.

VA Tea Partier Tells Elderly Woman Asking Him To Back Medicaid Expansion: ‘YOU Are The Problem’

Tea Party Virginia Delegate Tag Greason cares about his constituents. In fact, when they say something with which he disagrees, like ‘As an elderly woman, I think you should support Medicaid expansion,’ he cares so much he feels the need to set them straight–as Loudoun County resident Susan Merk discovered when she e-mailed him on March 28 when he told her she is ‘the problem’ and called her ‘intellectually lazy’ for supporting something that would greatly benefit her.

Merk voiced her support for the Medicaid Expansion. “It’s imperative that federal Medicaid aid is passing the [Virginia] budget,” Merk wrote.

Greason respectfully disagreed…well, maybe not respectfully, but he did disagree. Her elected official mansplained to her that, “ObamaCare has already proven to be inefficient, costly, and an utter disaster,” and that “Medicaid is one of the largest and fastest-growing parts” of the budget even without expansion.

Merk shot back, telling him that, “This reply is pitiful – it’s nothing but partisan rhetoric, false accusations and invalid excuses.” She added, “I will be sure to vote you out the next time you’re up for election.”

This enraged the Tea Partier so much that he decided to truly exercise outreach to the elderly. He responded, Pitiful because I am willing to enter a dialogue with you? All you liberals are the same. As soon as someone doesn’t agree with you, you shut down communication, call the other side names, take your ball and go home. I understand and am saddened by this approach at the federal level … but your reaction below is THE problem. I did not have to write you back … but I did. I think discussing differences is the only way to solve problems … you would rather leap right to the insults. How intellectually lazy are you? You are the problem. Good luck to you. You can not insult your way to ‘victory.’ If you are not willing to have a civil discussion, please do not write me again. It is a waste of my time. Thanks, Tag.”

Merk, understandably, was offended by her elected official’s actions. “I shouldn’t write to him again because I am wasting his time?” Merk told the Loudoun Times. “How many emails do you think he gets per day from people who disagree with him just like I did? It’s his job to listen to the people he represents.” She called his conduct “unprofessional” and “almost unreal.”

He attempted to walk back his remarks on Monday, saying he “must have been having  a very bad day,” though one must wonder how “bad” his day must have been to assail an elderly woman as he did.

The number of deaths attributable to the lack of the Medicaid expansion is between 266 and 987. If Medicaid expansion were to pass, it would lead to an additional 291,325 insured people.

Greason barely held on to his seat for his third term, winning election by only 500 votes in 2013. We look forward to his forced retirement the next time voters hit the polls.

Iowa’s Republican Governor Agrees To Obamacare’s Expansion Of Medicaid

Iowa is the latest Republican-led state to embrace the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

Thursday, Governor Terry Branstad announced he had reached an agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services that will allow Iowa to expand its Medicaid program under Obamacare. According to the Washington Post, Iowa will be allowed to charge a nominal premium to people making between 100% and 133% of the federal poverty level. The premium would be equal to 2% of income, or about $19 per month for someone at the current poverty line. That premium could be reduced if the insured participates in a wellness program.

Lauding the compromise as “an Iowa plan that fits the health needs of our state,” Gov. Branstad said as many as 150,000 Iowans could ultimately be covered under the expansion.

White House spokesman Jay Carney welcomed Gov. Branstad’s announcement, saying it is “great news for the thousands of Iowans who will now have access to quality, affordable health insurance coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act.”

Gov. Branstad is the tenth Republican governor to decide to participate in the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare.

Tea Party Hypocrisy Perfected: Idaho Candidate Opposes Medicaid, Has TEN Kids On Medicaid

You may have never heard of Greg Collett. He is a twice failed Tea Party candidate for the Idaho state legislature. He is a software engineer who has ten home schooled children. Greg Collett is like many Americans in that he wants what he thinks is best for his family. Recently, he has become the latest poster boy for right wing hypocrisy regarding health care.

On his campaign website Greg Collett identifies himself as the second oldest of eight children. His father worked for the U.S. Forest Service. He describes his political philosophy and experience as follows:

Although I have not yet held an elected position in government, I am well versed in the working of government and the proper role it should play. …I have had the opportunity to teach many people about advanced constitutional concepts, explain the challenges we face as a nation and state, break down complex problems, and demonstrate how the sole purpose of government should be to secure our individual, God-given rights.

Collett is also identified in an NBC News story from October 1, as someone who is opposed to Obamacare. He told reporter Maggie Fox

I don’t think that the government should be involved in health care or health insurance.

Greg Collett’s ten children are all on Medicaid.

Collett discusses his philosophy regarding health insurance

A number of sites have highlighted Greg Collett’s story over the past few days. Apparently enough attention has been pointed in his direction that he felt it necessary to respond. His campaign website has a notice on the home page directing the curious to a page containing his response.

Regarding why he does not carry health insurance:

If government is properly left out of the equation, individuals are to take responsibility for their own situations. If they cannot meet their obligations, they should turn to their families for support. If families are not able to help, they should go to churches or other charitable organizations for assistance. Government should not be involved, period.

Collett stresses that he pays his medical bills, and offers the following observation:

I want to make it very clear that the only reason taxpayers pick up the bill for those that do not pay is strictly due to government mandates to health care providers that violate the proper role of government.

Is he saying what he seems to be saying? Because what he seems to be saying is that the government should not require that hospitals treat patients who cannot afford their treatment. This echoes the sentiment of the crowd members who yelled “let him die!” at a 2011 Republican debate.

Like so many with similar opinions, Collett misses two important points:

1. A catastrophic illness requiring a long hospital stay or intensive care will result in a bill far beyond his or most others’ ability to pay.
2. Hospitals are forced to charge more to those who can pay their entire bill in order to cover operating costs when someone else needs a payment plan.

Greg Collett explains why he is ok with his children receiving Medicaid

To his credit, Greg Collett doesn’t mince words. He says

Yes, I participate in government programs of which I adamantly oppose. Many of them, actually.

He then proceeds to list the programs, which range from marriage licenses to government ownership of land. One of the programs he singles out is the foster care program. Seven of his ten children were adopted through the foster care system, which, he explains, is why they receive Medicaid. The others, he says, “qualify based on the financial rules.”

Collett sums up his attitude towards Medicaid as follows:

For those of you who insist that I take my kids of [sic] Medicaid, please feel free to get them off by terminating the entire program. I would be the most thrilled if that were to happen since, as with all public welfare programs, it should not exist.

Instead of setting an example by proving to the rest of us that he can provide for medical care for his children without Medicaid, Collett prefers to take advantage of a program he claims to hate. He offered the following rationalization to NBC:

The government is taking your money. They are spending it on things they shouldn’t be. Trying to get whatever you can back — I have nothing against that. You have to at some point try and get your tax dollars back.

Greg Collett does not believe that he is a hypocrite. The dictionary defines “hypocrisy” as follows:

the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform

Yes, Mr. Collett, you are a hypocrite.