Monday, June 17, 2013

The Speakah on Medicaid

Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives Philip Gunn said no to Medicaid expansion in this editorial submitted to JJ:

Principles Above Politics: Medicaid Expansion
By Speaker of the House Philip Gunn

The Democratic leadership in the Mississippi House of Representatives made a decision during the 2013 Regular Legislative Session to vote against appropriating funds for the current Medicaid program twice. Additionally, they voted twice against reauthorizing the technical bill that gives guidelines for operating Medicaid. They did all of this under the guise of wanting to vote on expansion. I said on the day that they did this, and I will say it again today: this is misguided and irresponsible.

Because of the Democratic Leadership’s actions, we are faced with shutting down a program that provides health care for those who are elderly, blind, and too young to take care of themselves. To use these individuals as pawns is reckless. The Republicans in the House supported reauthorizing and funding the current program four times.

I do not support the expansion of government in any fashion. Expanding government and ultimately raising taxes to pay for it is not how I believe government should operate.

Expansion of the Mississippi Division of Medicaid under Obamacare is a massive expansion of government. Expansion would place an additional 300,000 Mississippians into a health care system paid for by the federal and state levels of government. Passing tax increases or cutting vital government services such as education, corrections, mental health, or public safety is the only way to pay for this expansion. There is no other choice.

It is projected that Medicaid expansion would cost the State of Mississippi somewhere in the neighborhood of an additional ONE BILLION DOLLARS between now and 2020. As it stands right now, the legislature struggles every year to make our budget work. There is no way we can responsibly expand Medicaid knowing that our state cannot and will not be able afford it. By refusing to expand the Medicaid program, we are protecting the state’s budget from future changes that will come down from Washington in the form of unfunded mandates. State leaders cannot assume that the federal government will pay 90 percent of the costs for the new enrollees.

Beyond the projected costs to the state’s budget, we continue to receive information from Washington about implementation and misconceptions surrounding Obamacare. It concerns me that the impacts of the federal sequestration cuts are beginning to trickle down into Mississippi’s economy. This will certainly have an impact on budget writers in the 2014 Legislative Session. We clearly do not have all the facts needed to make a sound financial decision regarding Medicaid expansion.

No one can deny that we do have a health care problem in our country and state. With increasing health care costs, we need reform to ensure that health care is affordable. However simply having the government pick up the tab is not an option for me.

The discussion we need to have should focus on how we solve the health care dilemma with innovation and private sector involvement. Sure, the easiest thing would be for the government to only pay for people who don’t currently have insurance, but what does that say to those who don’t fall into the qualifying economic brackets? Our state has many hardworking folks who give it their best shot every day to do what is right. They do not want to add to the burden of the state. These people need help, too. Should we just add them on the government plan as well? Where does expansion stop?

Given that the Democratic leadership made this ill-advised move during the session, they have now come forward with an alternative plan to expand Medicaid in our state. It looks much like the Arkansas plan, and it touts “free money” to fund the program. There is NEVER free money when it comes to government programs. Who do you think pays for free government programs? It’s simple, the taxpayers.

We are at a pivotal point in the history of our country. We can have a limited government that encourages innovation and economic prosperity from the private sector, which I support, or we can have a more robust government that says bureaucrats dictate the answers. We cannot have both.

I will continue to stand on the side of smaller government and lower taxes. I will also continue to stand on the side of entrepreneurs and hard-working Mississippians who want to stand on their own two feet. I encourage our citizens to work hard to find prosperity and not turn to the government to find it. Government cannot create prosperity; government can only help create an environment where people can succeed.

1 comment:

Elliot said...

"However simply having the government pick up the tab is not an option for me."

It is for every other Western, industrialized country.



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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