Texas Legislature Gets To The Work Of Afflicting People

Posted on: November 12th, 2010 by Neil Aquino No Comments

The newly empowered Republican majorities in the Texas Legislature are considering pulling out of Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

(Blogger's Note--I live in Houston.)

Doing so would---In the view of the far-right--- have the double-barreled effect of possibly saving money---If only in the short-term and at great human cost---and finding yet another way to stick it to Washington.

(Below--Double-barreled rifle. Photo by Commander Zulu. )

It is estimated that 3.6 million Texans use Medicaid and CHIP.

Here is the Texas Medicaid web page. Here is CHIP web page.

A state program would possibly be established to replace participation in federal programs.

Yet since leaving these programs would end the federal match, Texans would suffer.

Does anyone think that Texas would set up a program that would really help people?

Of course, the goal here is to save money and make a point that Texas can do whatever it wants no matter who it hurts.

Whether this would save money for cities and counties is another question. Who would care for people who need help?

Texas leads the nation in the percentage of people without health insurance.

This is what Texas has become. This is what our friends, family and neighbors who voted Republican asked for at the ballot box.

Maybe not every person who voted Republican understood what they were going to get, but these are the facts.

In the hard slog ahead, those of us who don't want to live in a barbaric place are just going to have to do our best to spread the word.

Spreading the word involves communicating to those we know what is going on. This has to be a constant effort. Many people just pay attention at election time. People need to be aware of the facts before the heat of an election.

It would also be good if those who most need the help would better meet the personal responsibility of voting in every election.

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Senator Russell Pearce, the author of SB1070 AZs anti-immigration law stuck in the courts, will be the state's next Senate President. He has stated he wants to challenge the 14th amendment for anchor babies (even though I though conservatives loved the constitution), and like Texas wants to stop Medicaid and matching funds. No talk of what he will do with the sick people. Let them eat cake.

Are you saying that the Constitution should never be amended? If so, why do you support the 14th Amendment?

State legislatures adopting laws that are unconstitutional in order to promote their own right wing agenda is the issue. Touting how we should blindly follow the constitution with no "liberal" interpretation, but at the same time enactling laws that fly in the face of things they don't like in the constitution is the issue.

Well you're the one who brought up anchor babies and the 14th amendment. So tell me, if a couple commits a crime and enters the US illegally, should their children be rewarded by keeping US citizenship? I think a good comparison is this: if Dad robs a bank, should the kids get to keep the money? After all, it wasn't the kids who committed the crime, why penalize them by depriving them of their cash?

By a couple committing a crime are you saying by entering illegally (which is a misdeamenor) or some other crime? If the former, I don't see the logic in saying an infant should be without a homeland. An infant didn't decide where to be born. Many turn out to be excellent citizens. Do all of us really know that our parents and grandparents and beyond entered this country legally? If we somehow knew, should we strip their citizenship and ship them off somewhere? Sorry I think the bank robbery comparison is stupid.

The infant isnt 'without a homeland'. Where did you get that?

Governor Perry and Sarah Palin are looking at 2012 according to the web. I guess he doesn't have to balance his budget every year. We do in Utah it is a shame it has to fall on the poor kids. I sent this to my republican fanatic relatives in Texas. They will just tell me well they don't deserve coverage. Makes it really hard to go visit this month. I am surprised that Texas as great as it is suppose to be runs such a high deficit. Chip is for working parents that need just a bit of help to cover their kids. It is not a free handout.

Joe look at the author of the post. Okay so I want to know what Texas is trying to prove. They think they can help all the hospitals when the emergency rooms fill up even more with people without coverage. Diseases will spread and just like the swine flu last year people in Texas will be yelling at the federal government for not doing something. I think they are just trying to run the people out of their state. Just like Arizona. They don't want to help solve the problems they want the problem people to go somewhere else.

Margaret---I have even a somewhat more dark view of what is intended by these cuts. And you're right--Governor Perry did last year ask for federal help with swine flu.

Dr Thompson wrote: "Does anyone think that Texas would set up a program that would really help people?" There ya go. Just show your prejudice against the whole state. That's nice. You know, Texans are a bit more savvy than you may think. "The current debate over Social Security reform is reminiscent of the discussions that occurred in Galveston County, Texas, in 1980, when county workers were offered a retirement alternative to Social Security: At the time they reacted with keen interest and some knee-jerk fear of the unknown. But after 24 years, folks here can say unequivocally that when Galveston County pulled out of the Social Security system in 1981, we were on the road to providing our workers with a better deal than Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal..............Upon retirement after 30 years, and assuming a 5 percent rate of return - more conservative than Galveston workers have earned - all workers would do better for the same contribution as Social Security....." http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba514

Mr. White----This post was not written by Errington. I'm a sometimes contributor to this blog who lives in Texas. I know you often comment here, and it is kind of you to help contribute to the discussion. At the same time,I have to say I'm getting weary of folks who get defensive when barbaric policies are called out for what they are. Texas is near 50th in so many indicators of a healthy society. Suggesting that people be even more removed from care is in my view appalling. I stand by my statement that Texas would not, at this point in its politics, set up a program that would help people in contrast to the current Medicaid system.

My apologies to Dr Thompson. I did not notice that the post was written by a guest commentator. Neil wrote: "Texas leads the nation in the percentage of people without health insurance" So what? Because someone doesnt have insurance, does that mean his neighbors are evil because they didnt buy it for him? Why dont you analyze who these people are and why they don't have insurance before you infer that Texas is just an evil place? How many of these uninsured are not even American citizens? How many of these uninsured make over $50k and can be reasonably expected to purchase insurance if they want it? (I insure my family on a LOT less each year , so don't tell me it's not possible) How many of these uninsured make under $25k and probably ALREADY qualify for Medicaid? How many of these uninsured are in the 18-34 age bracket which is notorious for having large numbers of healthy single folks who simply don't buy insurance because they dont think they need it right now? Nationally, the numbers look like this 50.7 million uninsured 9.9 million not US citizens 19.9 million income over $50k 15.4 million income under $25k 20.8 million ages 18-34 Obviously there is overlap between these groups, but I hope my point is clear. The Democrats sold Obamacare on a lie, i.e. "50 million Americans without access to health care" Why don't you analyze the numbers in your state and come up with an honest number with which to start a discussion?

Helllllloooooo. Neil?????