Texas Conservatives Weigh Medicaid Withdrawal

The New York Times:

Some Republican lawmakers -- still reveling in Tuesday's statewide election sweep -- are proposing an unprecedented solution to the state's estimated $25 billion budget shortfall: dropping out of the federal Medicaid program.

Read the whole story: The New York Times

Comments

[CanaryLiberal]

07:59 AM on 11/12/2010

These right-wing poor-hating people are Christian in name only, for their brand of Christianity is one that does not actually involve following the teachings of Christ.

[rybalaw]

08:03 PM on 11/09/2010

The fact that this is coming from Warren Chisum does not surprise me as he promoted the legalization of the life settlements industry and has made a lot of money buying life insurance policies of people who were dying of aids. I do not think that the average suburban GOP state rep is going to buy this idea. The most important GOP member of the Texas lege to watch on this issue is State Senator Dan Patrick because he represents a suburban Houston area district and owns two AM talk radio stations in Houston and in the D/FW metroplex. If Patrick buys this crap, then it is going to pass.

[LiberalFromDenver]

04:06 PM on 11/09/2010

Oh, gosh, yes. Please by all means do this, Texas! It would be great! Think about how much we could cut the deficit! You don't need the program anyway, because private market-based competition makes Texas stronger. Go Big! Gooooo Texas!

[HST]

03:46 PM on 11/09/2010

Do it do it do it! My state (California) could use the extra medcaid funds. I also wonder what happens when poor old folks start showing up at Texas emergency rooms en mass. And they think the state of Texas has a massive deficit now? Just wow, Texas leadership is sheer genius, if by genius you mean brains made of chit.

[BlackJAC]

03:42 PM on 11/09/2010

$25,000,000,000 in the hole, huh?  Refresh my memory: aren't gops the ones always touting how fiscally responsible they are and insisting that Those Evil Liberals should never be trusted with the money?

[pbnyc59]

03:30 PM on 11/09/2010

See Martha, that's the cliff they want to throw us off.

[TokyoCalling]

03:12 PM on 11/09/2010

Absolutely no sympathy for the Red state residents who voted republican. Get ready for the cuts and enjoy the hot summer, cold winter

[operamartyc]

02:28 PM on 11/09/2010

This looks like the first of many cuts throughout the Nation to eliminate Medicare and Social Security so more $$ can be STOLEN from our economy and punishing the most vulnerable, the unemployed, the old, the sick and an ever growing poor population. I felt an overwhelming sense of doom the morning after the election as I don't agree with anything I've heard from any Republican - especially in the current financial condition we are in - the government can make a big difference whether we go over the cliff or not economically. The GOP will push us all over a cliff except for those "rich enough to donate" to keep the GOP in power. I'm beginning to wonder if the ex-patriots moving to other countries may have a good idea - Adrianna's new book is on my reading list. At 69, after working in my career for 47 years, I'm worried about ending up on the street, homeless, hungry and unable to afford any medical care. The government safety net is needed until the economy is healthy again - if that is a situation we will ever see again........

[Mavsreader]

03:33 PM on 11/09/2010

Does Rick do anything he promises?

[PatLow]

01:48 PM on 11/09/2010

AZ legislature follows this lead in 5...4....3....2....

[BowlingForRevenge]

12:29 PM on 11/09/2010

Two words....AIN'T HAPPENING.

This is Texas saber rattling insanity.
The Texas legislature is helping position Slick Rick in his 2012 aspirations.
These are his mambo lessons in prep for the Big Dance.
He's looking to fill Ms Palin's old spot on the GOP ticket.

[demimckingwoodtx]

11:32 AM on 11/09/2010

191114
views10,578 Get Politics Alerts

Email Comments 10,577 The New York Times:

Some Republican lawmakers -- still reveling in Tuesday's statewide election sweep -- are proposing an unprecedented solution to the state's estimated $25 billion budget shortfall: dropping out of the federal Medicaid program
And who will they blame this on in Texas? Why President Obama of course. Rick Perry won his race for the third time, became a millionaire in office and is now not at work in Austin, but out on the East Coast promoting his book, "Fed Up". What in the heck is he fed up with, the luxury living that Texans continue to give him or his cronies using budget monies to make him a profit?

[yweston]

01:43 PM on 11/09/2010

Chris Christie has done nothing but run around the Country "boosting" his profile since he was elected. He went on vacation in August then returned and went right oiut on his high profile tour to help the GOP. I don't know who's running NJ...It sure ain't Christie...

[texancindy]

02:21 PM on 11/16/2010

Actually the bill for this study was passed in the last session - a long time before this last election. It is only a bill to study it all.

[christianmama4change]

11:01 AM on 11/09/2010

Governor Rick Perry and Texas GOP's plan for Texas kids is "Don't Get Sick and if You Do - Di quickly!" Texas has the highest uninsured rates for children in the country - it is supposed to be one of the richest states, full of conservative Christians who don't give a rip about kids being uninsured. It sickening!

[GoodJuju2]

11:28 AM on 11/09/2010

At least Nevada won't be the worst in the US at taking care of their children and elderly for much longer... that is until Texas declares independance from the union. Listen up, poor folks, don't mess with Texas!!

[John Boyle]

02:05 PM on 11/09/2010

You can get sick but not in MY state.

[William1950]

10:04 AM on 11/09/2010

the right wing death panels... they will force the poor to use emergency rooms until the hospitals go broke, and then they will round em up.. internment camps, or poor houses, will be the new dwelling for those without insurance...

[WiltonDiary]

10:13 AM on 11/09/2010

Poor granny will have to sell her sole to the glue factory!

[William1950]

07:29 PM on 11/09/2010

hah... good one...

[miocid31]

12:10 AM on 11/09/2010

YES! please let them do this, lets see how the tea baggers spin this one!

[BrightSideofLife]

10:15 PM on 11/08/2010

Next Step?

Poorhouse!

The term is commonly applied to such a facility that housed the destitute elderly; institutions of this nature were widespread in the United States prior to the adoption of the Social Security program in the 1930s. Facilities housing indigents who are not elderly are typically referred to as homeless shelters, or simply "shelters," in current usage.

Often the poorhouse was situated on the grounds of a poor farm on which able-bodied residents were required to work; such farms were common in the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries; it could even be part of the same economic complex as a prison farm and other penal or charitable public institutions.

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

[MeinNH]

10:28 AM on 11/09/2010

The new slavery.