Perry Stands Firm on Rejecting Medicaid Expansion
Just six months ago, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Florida Gov. Rick Scott were fishing together on Fox News, pitching then-presidential contender Mitt Romney’s Medicare plan and arguing that decisions about health care should be made by states, not the federal government.
On Wednesday, Scott reversed course, joining a growing number of Republican governors who are reluctantly embracing the key tenet of President Obama’s federal health reform — a sweeping Medicaid expansion.
“While the federal government is committed to paying 100 percent of the cost,” Scott said at a press conference, “I cannot in good conscience deny Floridians that ...
Comments (59)
Philip Sorrells via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry. Heading to dust bin of history
Michelle Michon via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What a MORON!
Jackie L. Taylor via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It's rough to be poor in Texas. :(
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry stands firm on screwing over anyone who is poor and can't help him.
Cara Mendelsohn via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Did you see FL gov has now agreed to a 3 year approval? Seems like a good compromise that allows everyone to save face & provide services to their state with the Feds picking up the tab.
Rich Bring via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I hope he runs in 2016, I loved his debating skills
Toby Marie Walker via Texas Tribune on Facebook
:) Yeah for him, the strings are not worth the money. Let people live by Obamacare, go buy your insurance or pay the fine. Obama wanted everyone covered, now everyone should have to pay for it.
Sergio Hernandez De Santos via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I bet Lucy's healthcare plan is awesome
Lee Dunkelberg via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sad, sad, sad excuse for a governor.
Sergio Jaramillo via Texas Tribune on Facebook
OOOOOOOOPS!!!!!!!
Martha Dunkelberger via Texas Tribune on Facebook
what a heartless fool
Victoria Hammond via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry is an idiot.
Jim Hsu via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It's called TAKING CARE OF YOUR TEXANS. That is called "irresponsible" only if you are clueless of your mission as a public servant. What an offensive thing for a gov's office to say.
Your job is not to go on a national power trip, on tax payer money, just to show the rest of the world you can't even remember three things your aide spoonfed you minutes earlier.
Cheryl El-Sabagh via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I guess all of his relatives are taken care of!!!!!
Elaine Pinckard via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Asshole.
Casey Bennett via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Hey Libtards,,,,,,there's Obamacare now. Let them buy their own medical insurance,,,,that was Obama's plan in the first place. Don't like the plan,,,,change the players, and forfeit the game. Not heartless,,,,but you cannot continue to get fruit from a tree that cannot bear anymore fruit. Good for Perry. Doing what at least 51% of the voters want him to do!!
Merryl Redding via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Until you have information enough to make an educated comment you should refrain. When the federal gov't demands spending the states must foot the bill after the initial "gov't funds" run out!
David Whimsy via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Jacka**
Kathy Kennemer Genet via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Watch out, Karma's a bitch, Governor Perry.
Jonathan Trammell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Thanks Gov Perry. Amused by the people saying he should cave like the Fla Gov because the feds and their magical money tree are paying for the expansion and not the taxpayers of the state.......because it's all on the kids and grandkids(great grand etc) credit card and we need to stick them with more debt before they can vote and might say no...............Woot magic money tree
Ellen Backke via Texas Tribune on Facebook
This doesn't seem to be a logical decision. Invest $15 mil to be able to draw $100 mil. There's also the fact that city and county hospital districts must care for the indigent, so taxpayers are left to pay these costs. And insurance premiums are increased because of unreimbursed hospital costs.
Ellen Backke via Texas Tribune on Facebook
@Jim Hsu - He is not a public servant. He is a politician. There is a big difference.
Donna Mitchell MacKinney via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sad for everyone in Texas who would receive coverage under this expansion - people who, in most cases, have no other option. True, eventually the federal funds will shrink but there is plenty of time to plan for that. We have a healthy rainy day fund. Why not develop a similar fund to provide for the decrease in the future? Where there is a will, there is a way. What we have here is a lack of will.
Gary L. Cockerham via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Of the ilk of "Cruz Control", whether or not the money comes from the federal gov. or the state, taxpayers have to still foot the bill, Perry. You can't take a handful of pixie dust and make it to where people won't need medicare anymore. You and your supporters prefer placing Texas into debt because you hate Obama. That is just pain stupid.
Martin Woodward via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What a piece of shit. Republicans better wise up their, uh, "leaders" before they lead the remnant of their party off the proverbial cliff.
Erika Holzinger via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The face on Perry's face when Texas becomes a swing state will be priceless.
David R Durham via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry's mind does not think logically!! he only craves power, influence, and sensationalistic press coverage to further his ambition. HE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE AVERAGE TEXAN and never has. DOWN WITH PERRY IN THE NEXT GOVERNORS ELECTION!!! He has stacked the State agencies, boards, and committees with his political hacks...his tentacles have extended far far beyond his office. the mess he's created, along with his appointments and Legislature hacks, will take years to undo.
Gregory S Windham via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Gary is right. No denying it. Pot maybe, but not Pixie Dust
Rudy Gonzales
It is an absolute travesty the elite few govern with the tight fisted attitude and no compassion for those dependent onthe government, military and periferal services including Medicare and Medicaid services. Why are TEA-quest-traitors allowed to treat others as prisoners within their state? Rick Perry and the entire TEA-type legislators have forced their religious beliefs onto those not of their church. Bobby Jindal's "Stupid Party" comment does not ring hollow with the actions and antics of the TEA-quest-traitors in Texas. I'm beginning to believe these attitudes are exactly what dumped Romney-Ryan down the tubes. The total income share for the 1 percent has jumped more in the U.S. than in any other major Western country since 1960, according to new research by Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez. The top 1 percent's share of income dipped in some European countries and increased by up to 4 percentages elsewhere, but in the good old U.S., land of opportunity, it soared over 9 percentage points. Rep. Ryan proposed (R-P90X), and the House passed, the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act of 2012 last summer. After it died in the Senate, the Sequester Replacement Act was slightly tweaked and brought back by House Republicans during John Boehner’s fiscal cliff Plan B fiasco. We well know the truth of the concentration of wealth in the hands of fewer and fewer people and the concentration of power in stricter, less compassionate hands. "Sweep your state Capital CLEAN....in 2014" "Sweep the House CLEAN....in 2014" "Sweep the Senate CLEAN....in 2014
Rick Henderson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Seriously, there are so many important groups and associations that disagree. Even read the economic impact report by respected state economist Ray Perryman. Is he letting his ideological politics divorce him from reality?
Casey McKinney via Texas Tribune on Facebook
He is actually the lowest form of life in Texas, besides those that support him.
Michelle James
@Rick Henderson - Perry's never lived in reality. His dreams are clouded by dollar bills and narcissism. All those screaming it's too expensive have no heart or soul. One in four Texans don't have health insurance. Our tax money pays for indigent care. It's a win-win situation to expand Medicaid, but Perry is grandstanding, thinking he has a shot at the presidency. Lucy Nashed must feel like a dick as his spokesperson. I'm surprised he hired a woman. He must have been out of the office when she was hired. He no doubt believes women should stay at home, barefoot and pregnant, and without healthcare, and without options or choices.
Jalapeño Schwartz via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Time for Texas to succeed from Gov. Perry
Cliff McSparran via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Despite his less-than-optimal 2012 presidential try, Governor Perry is already running for 2016 - flipping off Washington is his schtick. I never thought I'd want Dewhurst as governor, but he'd be more reasonable, I think. And, BTW.......didn't we learn as Texas school children that our governor had little power; that the real power resided in the Lt. Gov's office?
Christie Ellis
Why expand a broken system? It is throwing good money after bad. The whole darned house of cards is going to fall as money runs out and cuts are made. I'm no Perry fan but I'm glad he's keeping Texas out of the coming fiasco. There is a BIG difference between having real health care and a piece of paper with a Medicaid number on it that won't buy a cough drop in a few years.
Earl Cooley III via Texas Tribune on Facebook
see also: freakishly evil.
Meredith Doherty Potyondy via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Time to kick these bums out. They are an embarrassment and bad for the state.
Peaarla Robinette via Texas Tribune on Facebook
time to go
Mary Morrison via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I'd have to say that's a perfect way to activate the automatic term limiter. Vote him OUT!
Les Stevens via Texas Tribune on Facebook
You can bet some buddy of his stands to get rich off of it.
Sonora Hartley via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The governor's position has not changed. His mind is still rusted closed.
Yvonne Massey Davis via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Stupid & everyone knows it!
Susan Bentson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What a guy!
McKenna Welsh via Texas Tribune on Facebook
How much longer do we have to tolerate this moron? Counting the days...
Dale Curry
Perry's refusal is a testament to this Governor's arrogance and lack of responsiveness to our citizens and the need of the state. His refusal speaks volumes as to how far this man's ambition far outstrips this man's dedication to our state. It is clear this man is all to ready and willing to sacrifice the needs of this state on the alter of his political ambitions. Ambitions that far outstrip his ability as we learned during his pathetic bid to become President.
Dale Curry
@ Toby Walker - Honestly, if you do not understand that everyone already pays, respectfully, speaks volumes about how uninformed your statement demonstrates. And despite your rhetoric and the lies of the right, "Obamacare" is the first tangible step to control and reign in those costs.
Dale Curry
@ Casey Bennett - Libertards?!? How about "right wing nut job" for name calling? When you post addresses others in such a manner, you clearly demonstrate your position has no basis in fact and is actually bankrupt for merit.
Dale Curry
@ Merryl Redding - Your post is patently false. Even beyond the initial period, the Federal Government has committed to picking up 90% of the future costs.
Luisa Inez Newton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Hard to imagine a human being dumber than Rick Perry.
Mike Openshaw via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Who can possibly resist 'free' money? Just those of us who realize the money is hardly 'free'. Especially considering the CURRENT Medicare system is running out of doctors who will accept it.
Susan Syler
SO disingenuous.
Cathy Dunbar Rosselli via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry worries more about his billionaire owners than those he was elected to represent. The number of uninsured Texans has only increased under Perry. He talks the talk of a Christian but does not walk the walk.
Daniel Smith
More than 1, 041,000 illegal immigrants in the state of Texas, second only to California. This inflates the poverty statistics in Texas, and to the extent they are ineligible for Medicaid assistance, it won't make any difference in their lives or on the poverty rate in Texas.
'Most of America's "poor" live in material conditions that would be judged as comfortable or well-off just a few generations ago. Today, the expenditures per person of the lowest-income one-fifth ...of households equal those of the median American household in the early 1970s, after adjusting for inflation.[6] Heritage Foundation
Dale Curry
For the record, it is patently false to claim medicare is running out of Doctors to accept it. Most metropolitan area, and a great many rural areas have and existing Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Such claims are more rhetoric over reality tea party misinformation.
Lisa Whitehead
That asshat Perry never disappoints me. If he's not making a complete idiot of himself and embarrassing the entire state then he's making sure SOMEBODY in TEXAS is going to get screwed over when it comes to healthcare. Not only is he jerking the people of this state around on affordable healthcare but he's screwed women's healthcare into the ground. Pious, pompous, pr!ck.
richard jung
Hang fast Gov Perry! Since the Feds can't pay their bills now, how in the hell can they pay for this added expense? Answer-- They can't the States will be left holding the bag.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Cathy, you are spot on.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Propaganda much Mike?
Ajay Jain
Hello Friends,
Governor Rick Perry millions of under-privileged poor Texans who do not have any Health Coverage will be covered under The Affordable Care ACT (ACA) expansion of MEDICAID!
My Physician wife's practice is partly dependent on MEDICAID and its viability. Please allow the expansion of MEDICAID to occur in Texas under The Affordable Care ACT.
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
ajain31@gmail.com
Twitter Handle ajain31
Mobile: 214-207-9781