Senator Cornyn: Expanding Texas Medicaid Would Weaken It (updated)

[TexasTowelie]

Last edited Mon Apr 1, 2013, 02:44 PM - Edit history (1)

As Texans, we take great pride in our state. We have a long history rich in tradition, innovation and compassion. Over the course of our state’s history, we’ve weathered natural disasters, tragedies, and some of the worst conditions of the Great Depression. At every turn, Texans have shown great character, lending a helping hand to their neighbors and caring for the neediest among us.

Today, we must continue that spirit of compassion when it comes to the health-care needs of low-income children, the disabled and those who need assistance the most. But instead of expanding a system that is already failing them, as Obamacare would have us do, we must takes steps to strengthen our health-care safety-net programs in a way that offers the poorest Texans a higher level of quality health care and access to the physicians and medical care they need.

Don’t just take my word for it. In a 2012 survey conducted by the Texas Medical Association, a large majority of Texas physicians agreed that Medicaid was “broken” and should not be used as “a mechanism to reduce the uninsured.” Indeed, there are much better ways to expand insurance coverage than simply pushing more Texans into an already dysfunctional and unaffordable program.

Supporters of the Obamacare Medicaid expansion generally make three arguments: (1) It would provide Texas with “free money,” because the federal government would be picking up the tab. (2) It would reduce the financial strain on hospitals struggling with excessive emergency-room visits. (3) It would guarantee quality health coverage for many of the uninsured.

More at http://www.texastribune.org/2013/04/01/guest-column-expanding-texas-medicaid-would-weaken/ .

[font color=green]Conservatives rally at the Capitol today to oppose Medicaid legislation. Please check back for updates.[/font]

[font color=navy]Texas GOP stands firm against Medicaid expansion

With protesters loudly chanting outside the governor’s reception room in the Capitol, Gov. Rick Perry and leading Republicans stood before a crowd of reporters Monday morning to repeat their strong opposition to expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

The show of solidarity included U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, U.S. Reps. Joe Barton and Michael Burgess, leading Republicans from the Legislature and several conservative leaders.

“Texas will not be held hostage by the Obama administration’s attempt to force us into this fool’s errand of adding more than a million Texans to a broken system,” Perry said. “Medicaid expansion is, simply put, a misguided and ultimately doomed attempt to mask the shortcomings of Obamacare.”

Republicans have been under pressure from hospitals, counties and business leaders to expand the number of low-income Texans covered by Medicaid, receiving about $79 billion in federal money for 10 years. The cost to the state would be about $9 billion, state health officials estimate.
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More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/texas-gop-stands-firm-against-medicaid-expansion/nW8nJ/ .

[Downwinder]

1. Perfect candidate for an un-rec.

[TexasTowelie]

2. Yes, I know.

Perry, Cornyn, Cruz and my state rep. Kolkhorst are at the rally at the Capitol today.

[Downwinder]

3. I've un-reced him every time he has been on my ballot.

And I'm planning on doing it again.

[TexasTowelie]

4. Updated 1:43 p.m.

See OP.

[Downwinder]

5. From http://progresstexas.org/ email

This morning, volunteers with Progress Texas and the Texas Organizing Project rallied outside Governor Perry's office demanding he expand Medicaid in Texas to cover hard working Texans. Perry hosted a 10 minute long "roundtable" discussion - where no members of the public were invited - and a joint press conference on Medicaid expansion with Senators John Cornyn & Ted Cruz, along with other Texas Tea Party members. Texans came from across the state to make it known that we need health care, and we need it now.

---snip---

The protest only finished a couple hours ago and we've already been mentioned by Politico, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Dallas Morning News, and the Houston Chronicle. We were so loud, members of the press inside could barely hear what the Governor and Senators Cruz & Cornyn were saying!

[onestepforward]

6. I wished I could have been there!

Big thanks to you and everyone who attended and made some noise!

[Downwinder]

7. We need to keep up the pressure

and make sure our lawmakers know that we want Medicaid expansion. Call your legislator today toll-free: 1-866-823-4787. Before you call, find your legislative district here http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx .

[onestepforward]

8. Thanks for the link!

I just emailed all of them and will continue to contact them about this. People's lives are at stake.

(added) I also tweeted them.

[ajain31]

9. Expansion of MEDICAID in Texas is the way to go!

You or I do not have ANY control over Federal taxes. What all pay into Federal taxes is FIXED. We can not change it ANYWAY. If people understand that then it is easy to understand that some States are donor states and some states are recipient states. Most of the Southern States are recipient states by virtue of what they pay INTO Federal taxes (which is LESS) and what they receive as Federal support (which is MORE).

No state can change the State donor role or State recipient role overnight. Most Republican Governors are just loosing out in that they are refusing the Federal largess (the Federal handout) on Medicaid Expansion because Believe it or not IT IS A FACT: If states choose to expand Medicaid, the federal government will cover 100 percent of the costs from 2014 to 2016. The feds' contribution will begin to decrease in 2017, but will never be less than 90 percent, under the ACA also known as Obamacare.

So people opposing Medicaid Expansion can cry foul till their cows come back home but they will with their State be the looser in the long run. If history is correct it all started the same way for the very well established system of Medicare in this nation.

(Check it out!) Many states refused to accept Medicare in the 60's as a way of doing business just like they are rejecting Medicaid expansion under Obamacare a.k.a. ACA (Affordable Care ACT) but in the long run when Reagan got tired of appearing in anti-Medicare Ads all over the country Medicare was established as the way of doing business (taking care of our elder population's medical needs) and to this day it is an accepted wise and affordable way of supporting our Seniors.

Mark my words in less than a decade i.e. by 2023 Medicaid Expansion will be the accepted norm all over the country and NOT the EXCEPTION. You and I can not beat the economics of fairness. Try your best but within this decade either Governors who accept Medicaid Expansion will be elected or Governors who reject Medicaid Expansion will be DEFEATED.

And if Medicare is any example MEDICAID will go the same rout. I repeat, Mark my words in less than a decade i.e. by 2023 Medicaid Expansion will be the accepted norm all over the country. And I am saying that proudly as I do not find the need to hide my identity behind pseudonyms.

People opposing Medicaid Expansion have access to Google.com and I believe they are intelligent people. Check it out: IT IS A FACT: If states choose to expand Medicaid, the federal government will cover 100 percent of the costs from 2014 to 2016. The feds' contribution will begin to decrease in 2017, but will never be less than 90 percent, under the ACA.

That's why I created a petition to Governor Rick Perry, Texas Governor, The Texas State House, The Texas State Senate, and Governor Rick Perry, which says:

"Please ACCEPT the FREE EXPANSION of MEDICAID under The Affordable Care ACT."

Will you sign this petition? Click here:
http://signon.org/sign/accept-free-expansion?source=c.em.cp&r_by=7268737

Thanks!

Ajay Jain
[e-mail]
Twitter ajain31.
Mobile: [phone]