GOP governors name their price on health care law expansion

[MindMover]

Two dozen Republican governors fought all the way to the Supreme Court to win the right to reject President Barack Obama’s expansion of Medicaid under the health care law.

However, just a few weeks after the Supreme Court sided with them, some of these governors are leaving themselves an opening to expand Medicaid anyway — but on their own terms.

Five Republican governors said Friday they would consider expanding the program if the feds gave them Medicaid dollars in block grants, which has been a goal of Republicans since the 1990s.

That was when the states had their strongest leverage, with the help of a Republican Congress, to demand freedom from federal rules to reshape the social safety net the way they wanted it. They pushed a welfare reform bill that President Bill Clinton signed into law, and almost had the same success with Medicaid block grants. That idea was too much for Clinton, and he vetoed the bill that passed Congress.

And the idea mostly dropped away after that. It stayed on the Republican radar, but it didn’t get far enough to become part of a serious national conversation.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78499.html

[bluestateguy]

1. I don't even know what a block grant is

Sounds like some buzzword from a Heritage Foundation conference.

[MindMover]

2. Block grant is another way of giving away money with no stipulations...

"a block grant is a large sum of money granted by the national government to a regional government with only general provisions as to the way it is to be spent. This can be contrasted with a categorical grant which has more strict and specific provisions on the way it is to be spent."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_grant

[The Magistrate]

4. A Slush-Fund, Sir

'Free money' from a state government point of view, that can, and has, been used for everything from hookers to blow....

[quaker bill]

8. Sir, I think it is "hookers and blow" (usually with some Jack)

Block grants generally go to private contractors, who generally make a fine living, and contribute to the correct campaigns.

[southernyankeebelle]

3. How sad the people who will need it will lose out in the long run. They are destroying the New Deal

bit by bit. That has been their long issue for a long time. We are worried short turn and those bastard take the long root.

[BeyondGeography]

5. They live to be annoying

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

6. Worth Considering...but I still wouldn't do it

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but block grants are subject to annual appropriations, so it could be offered in one year and amended a year or two down the road. So once voters get used to coverage, then lay the restrictions on the governors and say, "Take it or leave it." Which would be political suicide for them. But it's a gamble.

But I would ONLY make that gamble for large, important swing states, and of the five, only Virginia falls into that category. Utah? Fucking forget it. Wyoming? Fucking get in line behind Utah.

Not worth doing it. When Ohio and Pennsylvania and Michigan get on the list, we'll talk.

[MindMover]

7. You sound like a practical politician ..... good for you ....

as Harry would say ....

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[benld74]

9. HEY, Guvnrs! Pound Sand!