Parnell Rejects Healthcare Expansion
I spoke with several folks this week about what they expected Gov. Sean Parnell to do with his opportunity to expand Medicaid for Alaskans. Only one thought he would turn it down. Everyone else seemed to think he’d heed the plea of the chambers of commerce to support an expansion. The chamber isn’t exactly a communist cell, so I thought maybe its voice could reach the ear of our oil lobbyist-turned-oil politician.
When Republican Gov. Jan Brewer accepted the expansion for Arizona, she attributed it to her ability to “weigh the evidence and do the math.” Surely, I thought, Parnell could do the same.
Apparently not.
On Friday, the governor stunned a lot of us when he announced he wouldn’t expand health care to 40,000 Alaskans.
How does he sleep at night? God only knows.
Alaskans will die because of his decision. Really. Literally. (Somebody tell Sarah we finally found a death panel!)
Studies show that people will suffer needlessly because Parnell, who enjoys government-funded health care and has no problem taking federal money for all sorts of things, can’t bring himself to take federal money for health care for poor Alaskans. He’s so conservative he’s willing to flush an estimated 4,000 new Alaska jobs in the process.
Members of the faith community stood outside the governor’s press conference Friday holding candles and praying that he could correctly answer the question, “What Would Jesus Do?”
Their prayers were not enough.
Who knows? Maybe Parnell really believes Jesus would say, “Let’s don’t help people, let’s do another state-funded study.” Makes sense. There’s nothing like another study to make sick people feel better about the treatment they’re not getting.
“Can states trust the federal government to not cut and run on its share?” he asked at his press conference. Ha! Yes, that’s a big problem. Every time the Department of Defense even dreams about closing a military base here the state runs to Washington and begs for OPM (Other People’s Money) to keep it open. And we get it.
Parnell claims to be “pro-life.”
He’s not.
He’s pro-birth.
It’s different.
The definition of pro-life should include the time between your first breath and your last, not just your time in utero. Being pro-life should include access to health care, education, clean water and food, to name a few life essentials.
Parnell’s “pro-life” posturing may be even more hollow than his “Choose Respect” sloganeering. I don’t know. It’s a horse race.
The big beneficiary of Friday’s announcement? Sean Parnell. He’s sacrificing the well-being of 40,000 Alaskans to polish his Tea Party credentials. His Medicaid decision is a slap in the face to AARP Alaska, the Alaska Hospital and Nursing Home Association, the Alaska Chamber of Commerce, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, the Alaska Federation of Natives, the Anchorage NAACP, the Anchorage Faith and Action — Congregations Together, and many, many individual Alaskans, just so he can kiss the patooties of the Koch brothers, the American Legislative Exchange Council and the other outside interests he depends on to stay on the public payroll.
These are the same outfits funding websites cynically designed to confuse Alaskans about the Affordable Care Act, (thanks, John Aronno of Alaska Commons, for pointing out the snake under that rock). Yep, they’re paying to stop people from getting insurance.
AARP Alaska State Director Ken Osterkamp, in a press release on behalf of his 90,000 members, pointed out something that has become a pattern for the Parnell administration.
“Equally as disappointing is the fact Governor Parnell chose secrecy over transparency as he made his decision.”
Osterkamp added, “In doing so he is giving away the federal tax dollars already paid by Alaskans to the dozens of other states that have chosen, and continue to choose, to expand Medicaid to help those most in need.”
That’s right. The money goes to states with governors who don’t put their political ambitions and wingnut dogma ahead of the health of their citizens.
[This article is cross-posted at the Anchorage Daily News]
Good thing that we gave the oil companies that 6b tax break. Otherwise, how would we pay for all those “moochers” who worked for the state and “paid” into a pension and who are hoping it doesn’t default payments. How much is the state employees pension unfunded liability?? Yup; serious fiscal responsibility, right there!
Can those with pensions count on the state not to cut and run on paying it’s share????
Kiss my ass, Captain Zero. You’ve just nullified your own “logic”.
Again.
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The guv held off declaring the YK Delta a disaster for this?
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Thank you Shannyn for this response to such horrible news. I agree the Choose Respect sloganeering is hollow . It’s amazing to me any governor would not want to help families when they can. I can say several bad words right now but I quit cussing several years ago.
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The “audacity of nope”. What plannot are these tools from? Come on,Alaskans. Rethuglicans have leeched off the government gravy train long enough. They got theirs and prevent you from getting life’s necessities. What is more important? Health insurance,food security and a little dignity for the masses or more obscene profits for the thieves stealing your natural resources with the help of Parnell and crew? Your finite natural resources belong to every single Alaskan,now and into the future. They do not belong to Parnell and rethuglicans or Pebble or Exxon. Get mad and get out the vote.!
George Zimmerman arrested again for domestic violence. But,but,Trayvon Martin was a violent thug.
I suspected Parnell would reject the program, wondered what he’d use as an excuse (not reason). Especially since there were such compelling arguments from the Chamber of Commerce, the Hospital and Nursing Home assn, AARP, and Gov Brewer of AZ, I hoped he’d accept the program and therefore money for the state, health insurance for poor, but oh, no. He rejected the report that he released at the same time as his discision that it would make economic sense. So, his excuse is 100% to stoke the anti-fed government fires he set. It’s self aggrandizement, pure and simple. Can’t trust the Feds, that’s the message. I urge everyone who knows someone who would have benefited from this to push them to contact the gov’s office and protest loudly. And often. I know one woman, single parent of a luckily very healthy child who works hard and is just barely above the limits for medicaid. She’s in the food industry, so you know, she’s one sprained ankle or something at otherwise would be a minor problem away from bankruptcy, which then she’ll be able to get DenaliKidCare for her kid.
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I vote to reject Parnell. Let’s make it unanimous.
I second that!
Chapter 436 in Why It’s Immoral to Be a Republican.
The Pharisee went into the Temple to pray…
Ha – nothing like replying to your own post eh? I just thought it a trifle ironic that, after struggling to come up with a post that didn’t resort to epithets, my very next webstop was The Rude Pundit, whose essay today begins:
Everything you need to know about the delusional, lying, cold-hearted mo….fu….s that we call “the Republican Party…”
Note to Republicans: Repealing Obamacare is Murder
Read it. Very cathartic. You’ll feel better just knowing someone is saying what you’d like to say if only you were a rude pundit.
🙂
Governor Torpedo strikes again!
If it is for real live ( at least for now) everyday people , he won’t touch it or sinks it deep.
If it is for made-up fictional “people” he’s all over it, witness SB21.
I am beyond tired of this guy and his phony concern for the State of Alaska.
We thought it was bad ( it was) that whatzername refused to use state resources to get donated food and supplies to the YK in the food and fuel crisis? We were more than ticked she did the here’s-a-cookie-get-a-job run out there?
This yahoo beats that thoughtlessness by multiple measures, almost every day now. Pfffttt!
Yes Parnell how does that work when someone is on Medicaid and they shouldn’t be…Medicaid fraud?
Now when that crime hits the federal dockets of trial in DC you can let us know how that works out for you?
Oh you mean the one everyone but the owner got rich from…helluva time to go Repo Man…ouch indeed…
I would opt for the United Nations courts though…DC is backed up and the UN will embarrass them faster!
What would be the penalty for splashing Parnell with holy water to see if he burns in Hell? Parnell isn’t your ordinary son of a bitch. Nutters have to dedicate their lives to making the have nots feel worthless. They are just too good at it to have been birthed this ornery.
We..all of us..who were allowed to race barefoot, through the creeks, the forest trails, and stumble into.. indian club, or nettles..was trained in..the ways we search-out..danger. We, or caring parents..patched us up..and we went out..and resumed..the creative life..the ‘further educated life’. This..shell of a man..never was exposed to..actual..life learning. Was it a parental home where one must always be..all tidy and butten’d up, or was he singing in a choir..and memorizing bible verses? Yes..he is ending folks like me..if I lived there..to an early death..because of lack of actual..humanitarian wisdom. Political cred? The acidic..tea party dreges..are fomenting..and he will be one who finds..should he live long enough..that he chose the wrong side. Let him..continue ..stopping..in ‘freeze frames’..as he moves in this killing direction. More, and more..will judge him..and that..is as it..should be. My question is..does he have any grown children..of reasonable educational backgrounds..or are they as crippled mentally..as he? Also..is the mother..simply religious wallpaper..in their house..or does she have a real life?