True to form, the Republicans in Raleigh came to the rescue to save a governmental welfare/ charity program. The voted for an additional $319 million to fund Medicaid after some cuts by the federal government were implemented. They attempted to make it appear they were being conservative by tightening up payment for treatments for autism and changing the way fraud is pursued.
(Update: Fox 8 reports the bill contains work and immigration status requirements for Medicaid expansion recipients.)
We should emphasize, however, that they are trying to do some good things:
- Calling Chapel Hill/ Carrboro school leaders to account for their dissemination of LGBT propaganda;
- Tightening up the handling of involuntary commitment and mental health issues when crimes are committted;
- Seeking to outright ban books in elementary school libraries that push matters related to gender and sexuality: and
- Limiting property tax increases.
I had little doubt the Republicans would do whatever they had to do to avoid the perception they were causing people to lose their Medicaid. The premise that the Republicans offer fiscally conservative advocacy favoring limited government has its limits.
Yes the GOP is trying to govern responsibly . But they are humans and sometimes they err.
“A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking about real money.”
Everett Dirksen
Unfortunately, Fred, this edifice they have built with Medicaid expansion has turned out to be a real problem. I think it will continue to be.