Alaska will align with states declining federal money to expand Medicaid when it becomes available next year, possibly costing the state hundreds of millions in federal funding and denying health-care coverage to tens of thousands of low-income Alaskans.
The move by Parnell puts Alaska in the company of a shrinking number of states rejecting an expansion of Medicaid, the federal health care program for the poor. In the last week, Florida Gov. Rick Scott and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, both Republicans, have announced support for expanding Medicaid in their states.
While some legislators called the action "a mistake," they said it was unlikely to be challenged.
Parnell told reporters Thursday that he met with U.S. of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to voice concerns about the expansion and he said Alaska would not accept the money when it becomes available.
"I told the secretary that I was very concerned about expanding Medicaid --where the federal government could renege on its promise to fund the lion's share of any Medicaid expansion," Parnell said.
Wait, what? Why would Parnell be concerned that the Federal government, you know the government that essentially has supported the state of Alaska since it first attained statehood, would renege on its promise to provide the funds?
Parnell said he's concerned that the federal government is careening from crisis to crisis and may not live up to its obligations. Calling the federal government "broken and broke," Parnell said battles over the fiscal cliff, sequestration and budgets cast doubt on its ability to meet its commitments.
Oh, I get it. So since the Republican party is doing everything in their power to disrupt the ability of the government to function, this Republican governor can then reject this money, and keep tens of thousands of Alaskans from receiving health care benefits, while blaming it on the Feds.
Fucking piece of shit!
I would like to remind everybody that Parnell's predecessor did muhc the same kind of thing by rejecting money from the 2009 stimulus bill.
Ultimately of course her veto was overridden.
Gov. Snyder of Michigan even caved in to expanding Medicaid. Hospitals simply cannot absorb the costs of indigent patients because they can no longer pass on the costs to patients with insurance. And Michigan is going to cooperate, at least to some extent, in setting up insurance exchanges. Gov. Parnell is just too far away in physical distance and in brain waves from the rest of the country. Did he attend the Governors Meeting in Washington last week? He might have learned a thing or two at the meeting.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
That's TeaBagger math, Gryphen, doncha know?
ReplyDelete1 + 1 = He got his, Sarah got hers, and everybody else gets fucked over. Crony Capitalism for Crooks.
Where is Alaska's Queen Quitter to comment on such a critical matter for her fellow Alaskans?
All I hear is crickets. Not even a tweet out of that selfish bitch.
throw these fuckers out of office in the next election!
ReplyDelete(Congrats Parnell - this is the first time I've ever cursed online.)
That's really funny, because I've just done the same on Twitter due to Boehner... weird too, it was right away re-tweeted by a celebrity (first time for that too).
DeleteAnon & Nasty----
DeleteYou both know the saying: It gets easier. Fuck those crooks.
BBB
According to comments about this on ADN (Alaska daily News), Parnell is not going to be receiving another term. He's Persona non Grata like Palin is.
DeleteWhere is Tony Knowles when needed?! Oh yeah... 2006, now I remember. Smooth move, Ex Lax.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I don't have much faith that our current State Legislature will override Parnell.
ReplyDeleteThe Alaska Legislature is majority Republican, but perhaps we have some sane ones in the House and Senate. The federal government already provides so many financial gains to Alaska and Alaskans (and always has!), I hopefully feel that the majority in the Alaska Legislature will NOT vote against the poor in Alaska that need Medicaid.
DeleteAlaskans need to watch Gavel and Gavel on TV and see how each of the representatives/senators from our districts vote on this issue. Pay close attention Alaska voters!
The Republicans need to be voted out of office as much as possible throughout the next two coming elections (on the state, local and city levels). The Republicans in Alaska are copying some of the idiotic stuff that is being done in the lower 48. It's a waste of their time, energy and money paid by the taxpayers. Why aren't people more in an uproar over this stuff?
Legislators throughout the nation should have their salaries decreased as well as their benefits.
If we, in the private section, worked like they do, we'd be fired immediately. And, compromise is used in every facet of our lives - personal, work (private and public) volunteering, church, etc. The people serving in the United States Congress should be lined up on a main street in D.C. for all of us to see and anyone of us that wants to tell them what we think of them, should have the opportunity to walk up to the individual and do so. The lines for Boehner, Cantor, McConnell, etc. would extend forever is the only problem!
Today's Republican Party is NOT the party of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
ReplyDeleteIt has become the party of buffoons and dirty tricks.
The party of no honor, no shame.
The party of grab the cash with both hands and get out before the shit-storm hits and by the way: FUCK the poor.
Throughout history things go well for a while and then the pigs and snarling dogs take over. This time the pigs being the Koch brothers and the Mitt Romneys and all the other money men. The dogs being Rush Limbaugh and every barking talking-head on Fox News - proud to be bringing down the greatest country in the history of the world - as long as they get their share of the spoils.
Sadly; 'twas ever thus.
This guy is a total asshole and I still don't understand why anyone in Alaska voted for him! It's going to be interesting to see if he runs again - as they have been doing phone polls regarding in him the recent past weeks. They put him up against Begich, Palin (of all people!), Murkowski, Miller and on and on.
ReplyDeleteIf everyone is noticing, many of the Rep Governors in the lower 48 have changed their opinions on this issue and are going to accept the federal governments help in the program for their states.
Parnell should be arrested and put in chains in front of the governor's mansion in Juneau for all residents to drive by and verbally accost him!
Gryph, your headline says Captain Zero is rejecting funds for "Medicare". Fortunately seniors are safe from him in this respect.
ReplyDeleteThank you for pointing that out.
DeleteI actually DO know the difference, but when I type I often flip flop them.
we are becoming alaskabama.
ReplyDeleteHoney, turn the lights off and come to bed. There's no such place as alaskabama. Stop talking about such things or you'll have nightmares. G'nite babe. zzzz Now I have heard about a place called Alaskasippi...zzzz
DeleteThe gov of Alaska that has no personality whatsoever. I don't even watch him do his press conferences anymore. Read about them afterwards! Don Young gave him the perfect nickname when Parnell ran against him - 'Captain Zero". Cracks me up every time I see it written!
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the picture of Parnell at the top, I though he might be showing Tri-G's birth certificate as a diversion to throw Sarah under the bus to save his own ass politically. That's the only way he'll ever be elected senator. IMHO.
ReplyDeleteThose dollars will go to other states. Those would be the tax dollars Alaskans have already contributed.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how one person (a governor) gets to decide this.
OT but almost not... Sarah Palin missed an opportunity to come forth and deal with reality. Dr. Oz is interviewing women who have the get skinny problem of laxative abuse. An eating disorder. It is far too much of a medical problem for many women. These women will need medical care, I doubt all women in Alaska with the problem have the money Palin has. The day will come when their medical needs skyrocket. Parnell is handing a death sentence to the people in Alaska with laxative abuse sickness. Palin can pay for her own medical, others not so wealthy.
ReplyDeleteIn North Dakota, we sent a banker to the U.S. Senate.
ReplyDeleteKnow what we got? A banker for a senator. A true disappointment, the entitled little shit.
In Alaska, you put an oil company executive in the Statehouse.
What did you get?
"... In Alaska. What did you get?"
DeleteAs Gina would aptly put it, AK got a turd that won't flush. A floater. No, wait. That's Sarah whose shit-filled bobble-head keeps popping up in the airspace over Alaska. Parnell is carrying the bucket of water that Sarah is floating in. Still.
Sarah's floating in a "honey bucket" Parnell carries the bucket and Toady carries her purse..Parnell better be careful some of the Sarah Shit Water is going to splash on him..
DeleteI honestly was preparing to move to AK back in 2008, until your most infamous politician was highlighted. Since that time, I have been waiting until you the people clean up your act.
ReplyDeleteI want nothing more than to fulfill my dream of living up there, but refuse to do so until you clean up the shitstains that you elect.
Until then, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Idaho, and AZ will fill the void. Yes, they are red states, but I do not believe they reach they level of incompetence and criminal activitiy which has invaded every level of government up there.
Come to Colorado. We aren't perfect, but we are trying to get there one step at a time.
DeleteTell me again how/why he ever got "elected". I have a feeling there was some creative counting involved. I'm thinking maybe Anonymous should come clean up our state (in the same way they kept Karl and Kronies from the presidency and expose these crooks for who they are. I'm sure there is some dirty laundry to uncover.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe he got any votes at all.
DeleteLet's hope the Hospital lobby in Alaska is as powerful as it is in States such as Florida. It is the hospitals that are writing off care given to the uninsured and it is the various hospital lobbies that have changed minds in red states. Here in Maine, Governor LePage has yet to expand Medicaid, but I am betting my money on the hospital lobby to reverse that decision.
ReplyDelete