Perry under pressure to accept Obamacare

FT ^ | 3/31/13 | Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington

[Nachum]

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Rick Perry, the governor of Texas, is facing pressure from fellow Republicans to drop his opposition to accepting billions of dollars in federal funds under the “Obamacare” reforms and extend health insurance to 1.5m of the state’s poorest citizens.

Mr Perry, a failed presidential candidate who has not ruled out running again in 2016, is on Monday expected to defend his decision to opt-out of a broad expansion of Medicaid, the government healthcare programme for the poor.

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But that position is being challenged not only by public interest groups and the hospital industry, but by some Republicans in the state legislature. These lawmakers want to begin negotiations with the Obama administration to expand and privatise Medicaid in a way that could be acceptable to both conservatives and the US president.

According to an analysis by the state’s former budget estimator, expanding Medicaid would cost Texas $15bn over 10 years, but would open the door to $100bn in new federal funds over that period.

[man_in_tx]

bump.

[mazda77]

E-mail sent; stephanie.kirchgaessner@ft.com

Subject: Perry under pressure to accept Obamacare

From your article titled in the subject line of this posting;

“Mr Perry, a failed presidential candidate who has not ruled out running again in 2016,”

So, you mean just like the Mr. Gore and the Mr. Kerry, both failed presidential candidates?

Hmmmm?

[Jane Long]

Texas is going to be so SOL if that amnesty goes through that more money for free healthcare may not be the number one issue because there won’t be money for anything.

Exactly. Not to mention the *free* 0Care $$ runs out in, what, two years?? Then what? THE STATE PAYS for it, and in Texas' case, everyone else's, too. And, like Grams said, add amnesty to the mix and it's not a pretty picture.

Zerwas is going to hear an earful from me and my family/friends, today.

[Jane Long]

Here's another interesting tidbit I found from the Houston Chron, from Feb.22 of this year ...

Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, a doctor and member of the House Appropriations Committee, said Thursday he opposes the expansion under Medicaid's current rules and regulations but said he would be open to the program with certain reforms, including not just co-payments for enrollees, but "rational limits" on the benefits mandated and incentives for healthy behaviors.

*Reforms*? Ha! Never happens and the camel is in the tent. No thanks, Doc!

[MrB]

He should say something to the effect of
“give us our gold back and then we’ll talk”.

[sergeantdave]

The Financial Times is making an effort to create a news source that will combine the financial philosophy of the Three Stooges with the debating skills of the North Koreans.

[Grams A]

Thanks for the additional info. Will pass it on to my Pubby friends. Our regular monthly meeting of our Republican Women’s group is Thursday night and I’ll make sure this is discussed.

[txhurl]

bttt there seems to be give-and-take happening today on this.

[Grams A]

What have you heard?

[PAR35]

First post in 6 months and that’s what you come up with? I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you’ve been ill and are still under the effects of medication.

[txhurl]

They covered some of it on KLBJ-AM 590 today, probably will tomorrow too. I’ll post what happens tomorrow.

[38special]

Dude, get a grip. You’re wrong.

[berdie]

Thanks for that, txhurl.

[itssme]

I like what you wrote. I also sent a message to Gov. Perry on the link posted in another post. He needs our encouragement and support, as do all others who are under attack from the left. Let's all contact Gov. Perry and support and encourage him to stand his ground, and not to cave as some other Republican politicians have done.

May God bless Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Mike Lee, Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, and any other Republican or Conservative I have failed to mention. They need our prayers, our support and encouragement.

[man_in_tx]

Thank you for your kind words and good thoughts..