Monday, December 10, 2012

President Obama outmaneuvers Republican Governors attempting to resist accepting Obamacare.

"Gotcha!"
Courtesy of TPM:  

The White House's top health official made clear on Monday that it would not fund a partial Medicaid expansion for states that choose not to embrace the new funding under the Affordable Care Act.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wrote a letter to governors saying the administration "continue[s] to encourage all states to fully expand their Medicaid programs." 

In an accompanying blog post, she declared that "the law does not create an option for enhanced match for a partial or phased-in Medicaid expansion to 133 percent of poverty." 

In other words, the states must take all or nothing. That sets up a dilemma for Republican governors, who have to decide whether to stonewall Obamacare or accept the generous funding to cover their low-income uninsured residents.

So now the Republican governors, many of who campaigned by saying they were dedicated to fighting against Obamacare, have to either cave in and accept the funding or explain to their constituents why THEIR access to heath care coverage is significantly less than that of their neighboring states.

Damn he's good!

Checkmate bitches!
Update: Here is more from Cindy Mann, the director of the Center for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program Services courtesy of HuffPo:

"Some states have asked whether they could get the 100 percent federal match and expand Medicaid coverage to less than the 133 percent of poverty level specified in the law," Mann said. That amount is "a rate that Congress reserved for the full expansion, and so we are going to remain true to that intent of Congress," she said. There is no deadline for states to decide on the Medicaid expansion, and they can join at any time, she said.

So essentially it appears that the administration is going to let public pressure force these contrarian Governors to eventually cave in and accept the full benefits of the Affordable Care Act or risk their political futures.

Nicely done!

12 comments:

  1. Leland3:49 PM

    It still amazes me (although I admit it shouldn't) that there are still so many people who refuse to actually READ even the high points of the ACA.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous4:01 PM

    President Obama is handing residents of Alaska Gov. Parnell's ass on a platter! Love it! Isn't he the gov that keeps suing the Federal Government on Alaska's behalf and keeps losing? He's is doing nothing more than spending the taxpayer's money. Time to recall him from office, don't you think?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:04 AM

      When you're in bed with the Palins, you're destined for herpes.

      Delete
  3. johnie2xs4:37 PM

    Good!!!! And hope against hope these people will remember, come the next election, just what these foot dragging, mouth breathing Governors and Legislators did not do on their behalf.
    I concur! Great move by our President.

    ReplyDelete
  4. THAT's what is so great about a second term: he's about to outwit / out-hustle the idiots.

    4 years of that and 4 more of HILLARY and the pathogen that is the GOP will be just a case of bad history.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. fromthediagonal5:08 PM

      WoP #4:43... the pathogen that is the GPO...
      Gotta Luv That!

      Delete
  5. Anonymous5:28 PM

    I would just like to say for the record I would never ,ever play chess or poker with the President knowing that before you sit down he's already 6 steps ahead of you. You know as a constitutional lawyer he knew exactly what he was doing and what they would do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:23 AM

      They make it easy for him since they are insane. They try to do the same things over and over again expecting different results.

      Delete
  6. Anita Winecooler6:20 PM

    Boom Boom, Pow!
    Damn he's good! Taking it to the streets was brilliant strategy. Every appearance, he's cool, calm, collected and smiling.

    He's the Roadrunner!

    And he knows the perfect gift for six and a half year old "elves"!!


    Hey,Mr. Boehner,

    How's that "Not Just NO! But HELL NO!!!!" working out for ya?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous7:42 PM

    When is the last time we someone THIS GOOD at the long game. People PMB (that's piss moan bitch) and then we find out that he had our back all along.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous9:52 PM

    Love the chess image! What is the source for that? would like to get permission to use it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Caroll Thompson4:47 PM

    Here in Maine, the Republican Governor refuses to expand Medicaid. Then we had the election and the Democrats won back the House and the Senate by very large margins. So, I expect to see Maine take the enhanced Medicaid rate and expand the program.

    ReplyDelete

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