3/31/2014 Gov. Walker: Wisconsin is left behind in the dust By Bill Kaplan
Ouch but walker deserves condemnation!
http://www.wisopinion.com/index.iml?mdl=article.mdl&article=54563
3/31/2014
Gov. Walker: Wisconsin is left behind in the dust
By Bill Kaplan
..........Former Wisconsin GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson, a conservative with a heart, had made the state Medicaid-BadgerCare program the envy of the nation with its generous eligibility. But Walker's "plan" takes Wisconsin backward:
* After the Supreme Court upheld the ACA, Walker stomped his feet saying "Wisconsin will not take any action to implement Obamacare" (ACA);
* Rejected a federally funded state-run health insurance exchange;
* Turned thumbs down to Medicaid expansion with its generous infusion of federal spending, health coverage for thousands and health care jobs.
Instead, Walker's "plan" is throwing nearly 80,000 Wisconsinites off Medicaid, and with the help of a letter and a phone call, telling them to find their way to the federal exchange. Many will enroll and be eligible for ACA federal tax credits, thanks to the heroic efforts of groups like the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. But Sen. Baldwin rightly said rejecting federal Medicaid funds will result in higher state spending, burden the poor with out-of-pocket costs, many of whom will fall between the cracks, risking worse health outcomes. (Walker has "promised" that other poorer Wisconsinites will be allowed to apply for Medicaid). What to make of all these political machinations?
Walker has cool and calculating smarts. However, he lacks compassion, empathy or heartfelt expression for regular folks. When Ohio GOP Gov. John Kasich expanded Medicaid he got emotional talking about helping the disabled, poor and sick. Not Walker. It's all about his political ambitions and pleasing the Tea Party. Wisconsin is being left behind in the dust.
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