You Can’t Make This Stuff Up!
On March 30, 2021 the Missouri House of Representatives discussed funding the voter-approved expansion of Medicaid.
Among the Republican arguments against expanding Medicaid…
► Residents of 105 counties voted against the expansion.
► We need to promote work, not welfare.
► Today 40% of the state budget goes to health care: Missouri state government is not a health care corporation.
► I’m going to protect them [my constituents] from this lie.
► The higher minimum wage makes it too expensive to hire the staff needed by medical providers to handle expanded Medicaid.
► I’m proud to stand against the will of the people.
That last line came from Rep. Justin Hill (R – metro Wentzville). He later claimed, on KMOV News, that his constituents didn’t understand the complex question of Medicaid Expansion when they voted.
Now, watching the Jeff City Circus you learn two things. First, what the newest fashions from Walmart look like. Second, reality is what the Republican majority says it is.
Not only did the House refuse to fund Medicaid Expansion, they took the millions for it the governor put in the budget and reallocated those funds to a variety of things, including public school transportation cost.
A quick review…those who will qualify for expanded Medicaid in Missouri will have incomes between the roughly 22% of the federal poverty line the state now uses as a maximum income and 138% of the poverty line. Despite what Republicans think, virtually all of those to get coverage are employed adults – workers stuck in low-paying jobs, many in rural areas of the state where the Median Household Income runs around half the St. Louis area median.
[$33,859 Pemiscot Co. MO $65,454 Jefferson Co. MO https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/jeffersoncountymissouri,pemiscotcountymissouri,mississippicountymissouri,US/PST045219 ]
So, the rural-loving GOP majority is, essentially, peeing all over their own kind.
Sorry, but here’s the really bad news. His Accidency, Mike Parson, has a legal obligation to expand Medicaid because that is now in the state constitution. Alas, he can’t spend money unless it’s appropriated by the legislature, so, the governor has no choice but to watch the state get sued – and then lose in court. Unfortunately, sorting this out could take a great deal of time. Remember, under Parson our state government doesn’t jump when the court claps. For example, the state refused and refused to pay-out more than $100 million owed after a lawsuit by corrections officers.
Plus, the state will be represented by Attorney General Eric Schmitt. He too has a legal obligation to support the state constitution. At the same time, he’s another opponent of Medicaid Expansion and he wants to become Missouri’s next U. S. Senator. Don’t expect much.
The original plan was for Missourians to begin signing up for expanded Medicaid on July 1, 2021…The real effective date might be several years down the road, if it ever happens.
Yes, here in Missouri you can be an elected representative and say, “I’m proud to stand against the will of the people.”
Glenn