Eye Recommend --- The Split Between the States

THE SPLIT BETWEEN THE STATES, by the New York Times Editorial Board --
 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/06/opinion/the-split-between-the-states.html?_r=0

Twenty five states, most with Republican leadership, have decided not to expand Medicaid, leaving hundreds of thousands of poor Americans without health insurance--again.

(The underline is mine.) 

"In February, more than 130,000 Minnesota residents who lack health insurance became eligible for coverage when the state expanded its Medicaid program under the health care reform law.  That will save the state $129 million in the first two years alone. 

Wisconsin, however, has chosen to take the path of indifference.  On Tuesday, the Republicans who control the State Legislature's Joint Finance Committee voted to reject the expansion of Medicaid, even though it would have covered 85,000 people at less cost to the state.  The committee was marching in lock step behind the governor, Scott Walker, who claims to be worried that federal financing will run out."

This doesn't explain why he is rejecting the 100% financing that is available right now and already being moved into Democratic state coffers.

"What's really going on, of course, is that state Republicans have made poor people the victims of their ideological resistance to President Obama and his health care law...

...As Robert Pear of The Times recently reported, more than half of all people without health insurance live in states that are not planning to expand coverage...

...On Medicaid, education and many other issues, the map of the United States is becoming a patchwork of conscience and callousness...The breakdown of a sense of national unity in Washington is now reflected across the country, as more than two dozen states begin to abandon traditions of responsible government.

This is not entirely a partisan issue; several Republican governors, including Jan Brewer of Arizona and Rick Scott of Florida, have crunched the numbers and decided to support the Medicaid expansion, though their legislatures refuse to go along."

I lay the blame entirely on Republicans in both houses of Congress, who, instead of leading by example, choose to hurt their own citizens in order to make a political point.  

Some responses I've collected coming from social service agencies in red states: 

• Bee Moorhead, executive director of Texas Impact: "A lot of people will come       in, file applications and find out they are not eligible for help because they are too poor."
• Amanda Ptashkin, director of outreach at Georgia's For a Healthy Future: "Hundreds of thousands of (Georgians) with incomes below the poverty level would be eligible for Medicaid if the state decided to move forward with the extension of Medicaid.  As things stand now, they will not be eligible for anything.  What do we do for them?  What do we tell them?"
• Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus: "People will be denied assistance because they do not make enough money.  Trying to explain that will be a nightmare." 

The people aren't stupid and eventually, Republican intransigence will bring about Republican downfall.

It can't happen soon enough.