Time for Gov. Nixon to lead on health care
For a guy who focused so relentlessly on health care as a candidate, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has been remarkably quiet of late.
At a time when health care dominates the national debate, Mr. Nixon is one of just six Democratic governors who declined to sign a letter urging Congress to act quickly on reforms to broaden coverage and control costs.
Mr. Nixon’s aides say the governor acted — or rather, failed to act — out of an abundance of fiscal caution. He is concerned that health care reform bills might place too great a financial burden on state governments.
His spokesman, Jack Cardetti, pointed specifically to a provision that requires expanded Medicaid coverage for low-income families. Ironically, as a candidate for governor last year, Mr. Nixon relentlessly excoriated his Republican predecessor, Matt Blunt, for cutting Medicaid coverage.
Since July, Mr. Nixon has received at least $72,500 in campaign contributions from insurance and health care interests. He also got $7,500 from a lobbyist whose clients include health care and insurance companies.
Mr. Cardetti said those contributions are “absolutely not” related to the governor’s refusal to sign the letter. He said Mr. Nixon supports federal health care reform, but he objects to “unreasonable unfunded mandates” that pending bills could place on state governments.
Both Senate and House reform bills would extend Medicaid coverage to families earning less than 133 percent of poverty, or about $24,000 for a family of three. Medicaid is funded jointly by federal and state governments.
But most of the money to pay for expanded Medicaid eligibility would come from the federal government.
Mr. Nixon’s silence extends to more than just health care reform. In July, a coalition of child advocacy groups asked Mr. Nixon to adopt policies that would enroll more eligible children in Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
But 11 weeks later, Mr. Nixon has yet to meet with the advocacy groups. His office says it still is studying the proposed changes.
State officials estimate that more than 27,000 children who already are eligible could be enrolled simply by matching computer records with kids already enrolled in food assistance and other social services programs. What’s to study about that?
Mr. Nixon deserves credit for trying to expand Medicaid coverage to about 35,000 working-poor parents earlier this year. That effort was thwarted by the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Since then, the number of uninsured Missourians has increased. A new report from the advocacy group Families USA estimates that about 65,000 people in our state have lost their insurance coverage so far this year.
There’s no question that the recession has limited Mr. Nixon’s options. But that shouldn’t keep him from speaking out about the need for reform with the same urgency that he espoused on the campaign trail.
Mr. Nixon should be doing everything he can to expand coverage for children. He doesn’t need to wait for legislative approval to take steps urged by child advocacy groups almost three months ago.
Now, when the need is greatest, Mr. Nixon should be speaking out loudest. The people who elected him expect more than warmed-over Matt Blunt.
Not much backbone there, he safely remains very quiet when leadership is needed the most, like the wimpy dad in some housholds we all have witnessed.
Frankly, Nixon’s focus on this issue is right where it ought to be. If the federal government does healthcare reform by placing large unfunded mandates on the states, Missouri could have the same situation now facing Illinois and California. Keeping our state out of bankruptcy is certainly a top priority, and Nixon deserves kudos for keeping an eye on the checkbook.
A complete disappointment to those of us who supported him thinking he would reverse the disastrous cuts made by Governor Blunt. Now, he won’t even support a federal bail out of our failed Missouri healthcare mess. Worse yet, under his watch, those injured on the job are now being denied benefits under the second injury fund if they are permanently disabled. This Governor obviously misleads his supporters when he campaigns, and needs to be cut loose next election cycle.
Other media are reporting that the state reserves have been tapped for an additional $150 million and Gov. Nixon will be laying off state employees. Where do you think this money will come from? Household incomes have not increased and ANY form of tax or additional revenue will most likely result in loss of business to other states or fewer sales.
Do people want their neighbors to have healthcare-I believe yes- is it a right-NO. I am all for helping the working poor but for those who have CHOSEN a lifestyle based on government care– find a job and become the working poor first.
BTW– the Governor can’t handle existing situations- do you really think he needs more on his plate? (DNR)
Nick
I am with you on the issue. Nixon is right to point out that we can’t afford spending money we don’t have.
Reasonable people disagree but it is my view that the Post ed board tends to be for expanding coverage with little regard for the cost. Someone has to pay for it and federal money isn’t free.
But while I disagree with the main point of the editorial there is a smaller point that I do agree with. Candidate Nixon made hay of torching Governor Blunt on health care. Now that the shoe is on the other foot
This goes ever so slighty to the Governor’s credibility. Unfortunately, I think democrats, republicans, or independents can agree that the Governor does have a credibility problem.
Governor Nixon doesn’t have to wait for federalaction, nor need he fear any unfunded federal mandates about healthcare.
We can vote to amend the Missouri Constitution to make healthcare a human right, not a privilege of only a few. We can amend the Missouri Constitution again to fund the Missouri Healthcare for All Plan with bonds to fund the provision of healthcare for all Missourians. The late Governor carnahan sumitted a $660 million plan for education funding which passed with some 65% of voter support.
http://dangerousintersection.org/2009/02/02/states-don%e2%80%99t-have-to-wait-for-stimulus-payments/
Food, shelter and health care are basic human needs, are we going to let people die because they do not have these needs?. Should we revert to what the Germans did and just exterminate the ones that we believe are undesirable?.
> bonds to fund the provision of healthcare for all Missourians
Bonds are for capital investments, not recurring costs. If you want to give everyone free healthcare, you need to find a revenue source to pay for it. Sending the bill to my children is not a solution.
What a disappointment he turned out to be, I’m sorry I voted for him, he’s become just another talking suit.
The insurance industry just announced today that if they are forced to reform without requiring a large enough number of people to be forced to purchase insurance that they would have to raise premiums in the thousands.
I wish these pathetic politicians would wake up and just allow these this profit driven private industry to stay as they are and just offer our citizens a public option. Let them run their business just the way they want to, but give us, the citizens a public option.
I am beginning to feel much loathing towards this industry and our politicians concerning healthcare. It isn’t the duty of our citizens to be forced into making certain that the health insurance industry remains profitable. If the insurance industry wins, it is reason enough to give up citizenship in this country if you ask me.