Texas Governor Refuses to Implement Insurance Exchange, Expand Medicaid

July 10, 2012

  • July 10, 2012 at 8:38 am
    youngin' says:
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    Let us know how that works out, Rick.

    • July 10, 2012 at 1:47 pm
      Captain Planet says:
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      There are 3 reasons why Rick doesn’t like this program. The first reason is…uhhh, well, it’s, umm (as he wears his Brokeback Mountain jacket and spews hate on the alternative lifestyles).

  • July 10, 2012 at 8:46 am
    SusieQinthe Midwest says:
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    “He said an expansion of Medicaid would bring millions of additional Texans into an already unsustainable Medicaid program, at a potential cost of billions to Texas taxpayers.”

    Wow, If I lived in TX I would be pissed…

    • July 10, 2012 at 2:16 pm
      knotins says:
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      @ Susie,,, I am lost, why would you be pissed. He is stating that it is unsustainable and would break the back of their current program.

    • July 10, 2012 at 3:41 pm
      Agent says:
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      We, in Texas are not pissed at Perry for doing this. Adding $6 Billion additional to a stressed budget is not a good thing. We already have a bad illegal immigration problem here and they are a big drain on hospitals, schools and Police Departments all over the state. We hope the other 25 states join Texas in rejecting this onerous legislation.

  • July 10, 2012 at 1:27 pm
    David says:
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    I love Rick Perry. Too bad he washed out last year.

    • July 10, 2012 at 1:48 pm
      Captain Planet says:
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      Careful, David. Rick doesn’t like guys telling him they love him and I’d be willing to bet he’s packing heat. He probably believes in the shoot first and ask questions later Florida law to boot.

      • July 16, 2012 at 3:16 pm
        Bob says:
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        I just realized something:

        Did you just really make a comment as a direct result of the Zimmerman case?

  • July 10, 2012 at 1:40 pm
    Rose says:
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    If our United States is to uphold the individual functioning of each state, then Perry is right, ObamaCare oversteps the rights of the state. I especially have issues with future rulings. None of us, in our right minds, would agree to a home or auto purchase/loan contract where the terms were “to be determined at a future date.” So why would we agree to that kind of control at a state level with millions of dollars AND lives at stake.

  • July 10, 2012 at 2:04 pm
    DS says:
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    “The PPACA does not truly allow states to create and operate their own exchanges,” Gov. Perry stated in the letter to Sec. Sebelius. “Instead, it gives the federal government the final say as to which insurance plans can operate in a so-called ‘state’ exchange, what benefits those plans must provide, and what price controls and cost limits will apply. It leaves many questions to be answered later through federal ‘future rulemaking.’ In short, it essentially treats the states like subcontractors through which the federal government can control the insurance markets and pursue federal priorities rather than those of the individual states.” <—- Um, no. If your state sets up an Exchange, then your state sets up the Essential Health Benefits, cost limits etc for that Exchange.

    And great that you want to reform Medicaid, but that's a separate issue. Not creating an Exchange is not going to reform Medicaid. You are just limiting the options for individuals in your state to purchase PRIVATE insurance via the Exchange and have more competition amongst PRIVATE insurance companies. And possibly setting up the Fed to come in and do the Exchange for you.

  • July 10, 2012 at 2:23 pm
    D says:
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    So, now we wait for Governor Rick’s alternative plan to make up for the people left without access to health insurance due to his inaction. Oh…there is no alternative plan? Nice, Rick. And you call yourself a Christian? I guess it’s more important to score political points on the backs of those less fortunate, even though it conflicts with Christian principles.

    • July 10, 2012 at 3:38 pm
      Brokie says:
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      Hey – it’s like Rick’s campaign commercial told us: gay people can serve in the military, but kids can’t pray in school. What? Right wing gibberish. Denying the entire huge state of TX $13 BILLION in federal aid should be an impeachable offense. My favorite favorite Rick Perry moment was when he was $hit faced at an awards dinner in New England and he was kissing the bottle of maple syrup – have you seen that? And he was…simpering. No really. Maybe he needs to take some time off and go to his parents retreat at N-word Head Canyon (whatever) and think this over. I couldn’t stand to live in TX….

      • July 10, 2012 at 5:43 pm
        First Agent says:
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        Good, we don’t want you here. Stay in your Blue State and suffer there.

      • July 13, 2012 at 12:24 pm
        Bob says:
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        Brokie:

        What in the world does that beginning comment have to do with anything? I will direct that comment anyway, as it seems you are more focused on trying to question a man’s character than consider the wisdom of the comment:

        Don’t ask don’t tell was very similar to not being allowed to demonstrate your religion in school. Then we changed it. You can demonstrate your sexual orientation in the military. It was not just gay people being allowed to serve that made the republican make the comment. It was a comparison about the OPEN practice.

        School is almost 8 hours long. A religious person should not obstain from praying for a full day.

        Now on the other side of the fence, gay people (a belief) can openly pracitce being gay (a belief, akin to religion) but something as simple as praying (a part of a belief) cannot be public. Ever. I find that quite a bit biased against religion. But no, you would not.

        Gays get more perks than religion. That was the point of the comment.

    • July 11, 2012 at 3:25 pm
      Jill says:
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      25% of adult Texas do not have health insurance – it has been that way for many years. I don’t think the leadership in Texas has ever had a plan.

    • July 13, 2012 at 7:25 pm
      Bob says:
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      Very comical.

      So making life harder for the other 75% makes complete sense right?

      The top 1% cannot pay for the lower 25%. It is literally impossible.

      Taking a solution which takes from the majority 75% and give to the lower 25% is immoral. If you’re trying to imply the lower 25% cannot afford health insurance, both Ha and Ha must be inserted here. It can be done. They choose not to. Others should not suffer from their choices. 25% can break the entire system if they all get a free ride.

      • July 16, 2012 at 11:10 am
        First Agent says:
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        Bob, it is all about wealth redistribution with people like Jill or Planet. Take from the wealthy and “give” it to the needy. Texas is somewhat unique with its large hispanic population, much of it illegal. The percent of uninsured would drop dramatically if the illegals were gone. Texas actually has very good healthcare facilities across the state, but they are often overrun with uninsured illegals who strain the system to provide care. These people, if allowed to stay in this country should be treated by the Doc in a Box clinics and it would be more cost effective in the long run.

        • July 16, 2012 at 2:05 pm
          Bob says:
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          Oh it gets better Agent, have you seen the Dividend tax rate plan?

          So when I invest in stocks, I can rely on share prices, of which long term capital gains means I have to invest in a stock long term to see a benefit. Therefore, if the stocks I am investing in are doing poorly, I literally am being nearly forced due to taxes to stick with a failing market. This is idiotic.

          With Dividends I can choose to invest in a stock which pays them long term and just sit with the company, profiting with them. But apparently, this is worth rising the rate to 31% for the middle class for. Captial gains isn’t going up yet for the middle class but that one is. This is why I’m pissed.

          The dividend rate is an easy way for the middle class to get the 9% average annual return on dividends since the depression, rather than 3% annual average income increase, which I might add is actually not accurate.

          The government is more interested on taking their potential 9% return for life than they are in taking their potential 3% return.

          This is a simple question Romney should ask Obama: Why are you obsessed with taxing the middle classes larger area for rate of return, when we both agree that no matter what we have done since the 1940’s the rate of increase of the same classes income has always remained 3% average? You don’t want them to have 9% of an increase increminted over 40 years?

          I saw forget that. That tax will directly affect my mother’s retirement. And she is by no means rich.

          • July 16, 2012 at 2:55 pm
            First Agent says:
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            This anti American government we have now intends to raise the taxes more in January if we allow them to let the Bush tax cuts go away. The President now is saying that American business didn’t invent or do anything without government assistance. The internet could not have been created without government. The specter of 10 new taxes for the middle class are in the offing if Obamacare is not repealed. Obama and his minions have never seen a tax they didn’t like and therefore we are going to send them packing in Nov.

  • July 10, 2012 at 4:03 pm
    texagent says:
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    Actually, the Supreme Court ruled that the Medicaid expansion violates the Constitution by threatening States with the loss of their existing Medicaid funding if they decline to comply with the expansion. Gov. Perry has not denied the State of Texas federal funding. The Supreme Court ruled to protect the federal aid states receive.

  • July 10, 2012 at 4:17 pm
    Stephen Tallinghasternathy says:
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    Texas ranks last in providing healthcare to its citizens:

    “The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality looked at hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other medical providers in its annual review. At the bottom was Texas, coming in behind West Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.”

    http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/366863/group/homepage/

  • July 10, 2012 at 4:17 pm
    Mary says:
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    All I know is this actually affects my family in TX. They have been praying for Obama care as they have born with pre-existing conditions and can’t obtain coverage anywhere. The cost of self insuring has taken its toll (and please don’t tell me they need to change their life style – they don’t smoke, drink, not over weight etc).

    • July 10, 2012 at 5:42 pm
      First Agent says:
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      Mary, have you heard of the Texas Health Pool which does write coverage for people with Pre X’s? I have had customers go there to obtain coverage. Don’t tell me there is no market out there.

    • July 11, 2012 at 7:56 am
      Brokie says:
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      Mary – my best hopes and prayers for your family, that they be able to find affordable health care.

  • July 10, 2012 at 4:34 pm
    Texas Proud says:
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    Brokie – you say you couldn’t stand to live in Texas, which sounds like you don’t (Thank God for that). If you don’t live in Texas, mind your own business and leave our state and our Governor alone.

    • July 11, 2012 at 7:54 am
      Brokie says:
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      Hey Tex – as another Texan politician once said “Bring It On’. I am incredulous that Texans continually support this governor who advocated secession. Now THAT’s treasonous. Texas ranks 50th in the health care it provides for its residents. Y’all should be talkin’ proud…..

      • July 11, 2012 at 10:24 am
        LiveFree says:
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        I am by no means a Rick Perry fan, but secession is clearly defined in the constition and is constitutional. I can not say the same for this affordable health care mandate.

      • July 11, 2012 at 4:33 pm
        First Agent says:
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        Brokie, I can tell you didn’t study history in school or you may have learned that Texas was its own country until 1845 and agreed to join the United States on condition that it could leave if need be. Texas is the only state that has this provision and it is constitutional. It would not be treasonous for them to secede. The way things are going in this country, it might be a wise move.

  • July 10, 2012 at 11:28 pm
    larryfast says:
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    Rick Perry makes Jimmy Hoffa look benevolent. He is so far inside the Insurance Carriers and general business interest’s pockets that he and he hasn’t drawn an honest breath in decades. His literal interpretation biblical views are made a mockery by his business corruption support and promotion; hurting millions of Texans and condemning a like number to lives shortened by dozens of years due to inaccessibility to health care.

    • July 11, 2012 at 7:32 am
      Brokie says:
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      larryfast – well said.

    • July 13, 2012 at 3:04 pm
      Bob says:
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      Do you have any evidence to support your claim that he is in the pocket of health insurance company pockets other than him being against Obama’s health care plan?

      Wouldn’t you think someone who was in the health insurance company’s pocket would in fact want the rest of the 25% of adults to be forking over cash to their policies for profit?

      Because I certainly know as an agent I’d take those clients gladly, and so would any underwriter. They would just make sure they underwrote a profit.

      I don’t think you have any evidence, and as usual rely on idealistic comments on the left rather than logics on how the system works.

      • July 13, 2012 at 3:24 pm
        First Agent says:
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        Bob, larryfast is much like Planet, Jill and others on this blog who 0 proof of any wrongdoing so they just make things up like most Progressives when they can’t win an argument. Perry has been a good governor and re-elected by large majorities. Kay Bailey Hutchison decided to leave the Senate and run for governor and he handed her her head in the primaries. She never made accusations like larryfast or it would have come out. Neither did his Democratic opponent in the General Election and it was an equally large landslide. I see that Obama’s campaign is getting so desperate, they are calling Romney a felon now. Can’t win the argument so just get dirty and personal. Their goose is cooked now and they just can’t stand it. Romney had better have the stomach for this and fight back. No more Mr. Nice Guy.

  • July 11, 2012 at 1:51 pm
    LoneRanger says:
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    The Obamacare Health Plan is just a cover to raise billions $$$$$ through dozens of new taxes. Just wait until the money starts disappearing from your paychecks and other costs go up that you have to pay for. You will change your minds then or will you be too dumb to notice. The Texas Medical Center has the finest medical facilities in the world and as for Guaranteed issue health issue, we have had that in Texas for years. Anyone in Texas who says that cannot get health issuance in Texas is lying, its just that they want it for free. Nothing in this world is free, it must be paid for by someone somewhere.

    • July 11, 2012 at 3:17 pm
      First Agent says:
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      Hey Ranger, the Progressive crowd delights in running down the Lone Star State and saying Texas has the most people uninsured. Guess what, we have been overrun by illegal aliens for several years with little border control from the Feds. These are the people who strain all our facilities from Healthcare to schools to Police Depts. If all these people were sent packing, we would certainly be in better shape on the medical care. Gee, I wonder why people from other states keep moving here if Texas is so bad. I wonder how this state created more jobs in the past 4 years than all the other states combined. We actually have a robust economy compared to all those blue states who keep taxing their businesses to death and causing them to leave.

    • July 11, 2012 at 3:31 pm
      Brokie says:
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      Like two wars?

      • July 11, 2012 at 3:56 pm
        Marina says:
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        What do two wars have to do with medical care and the economy in Texas?

        • July 12, 2012 at 4:28 pm
          Brokie says:
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          I didn’t want to have to pay for the two wars but I had no choice. I’d rather know my tax dollars were going toward health care, than unprovoked attacks under the guise of WMDs….

          • July 12, 2012 at 4:46 pm
            First Agent says:
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            Brokie, I think your brain is “Brokie”. You say you want your tax dollars to go toward Healthcare. There will be plenty of taxes levied on you to do it. If you are in the middle class, seven new taxes. I hope you enjoy forking all that money over so you can enjoy your new Medicaid like coverage purchased through the exchanges and all that wonderful rationed care coming down the pike.

          • July 13, 2012 at 12:32 pm
            Bob says:
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            The attacks were not unprovoked. Do your research.

            Sadam broke several sanctions which were quoted at the time of war by Bush in his speech.

            WMD’s were not the only one, and “guise” is ridiculous. Bush did not present the information. It was several countries’s intelligence, which Bush has no ability to modify.

            The democrats voted for the war. If you’re going to claim the “guise” fooled them then democrats have to be the stupidist morons not able to run the country ever. Otherwise, they are lying about something they clearly authorized and encouraged to get polictical points and are creating a conflict amongst americans to get elected, at which point they are not fit to run the country ever. Given the class warfare at this point, which do you think is more likely?

            If it looks like a duck, it’s a duck. These guys do not care about you. At all.

            Which one is it Brokie?

      • July 13, 2012 at 12:29 pm
        Bob says:
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        “like two wars?”

        Which the democrats voted for, British intelligence, several other countries in the UK agreed on, and CIA intelligence gave pertinent information for (BUSH DID NOT CREATE THOSE FACTS he was PRESENTED them)

        Obama continued the same withdrawal timeline table as passed under Bush for (therefore signed off on the two wars) and started a third with Libya?

        You mean like the sanctions Obama is putting under for Iran, sanctions which are similar to the Iraq sanctions, the same sanctions that Bush quoted line by line being broken as the the reason we went to war with Iraq and actually allowed for the war with Iraq? You mean THOSE sanctions that were put in place by Clinton to allow for war another democrat?

        You mean that type of war mentality? You mean like the revisions FDR made to the authority of a president (originally a crises did not include giving the president the ability to send a country to war), which allowed for a president to start a war with North Korea, after which we actually had to pass an ammendment that we cannot go to war with North Korea without congress approval? Literally, that was not the President’s power. It was expanded over FDR.

        Democrats have been war mongers forever. And you’re passing that off to republicans? Yeah right.

        Go cry me a river when you do a little research.

  • July 11, 2012 at 3:29 pm
    Jill says:
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    Smart insurance companies are already planning on how to work with this new law and yes, even make money with it. We’re ready to get rolling. Some will just post complaints and not get on board -so lose out.

    • July 11, 2012 at 4:09 pm
      LiveFree says:
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      Smarter insurance companies can do both

  • July 12, 2012 at 4:53 pm
    Watcher says:
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    y’all complain about the illegals in TX but yet y’all keep on hirin’ them. Crack down on those that hire illegals with meaning ful fines…but don’t be a hypocrit and talk out of both sides of your mouth.

    Like if I lived in TX, I would trust the state to use the block grants fairly? NOT

    • July 12, 2012 at 5:25 pm
      First Agent says:
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      The Police catch them, report it to ICE and ICE won’t deport them or even cooperate with local authorities. Put this on the doorstep of Janet Incompetano who wants all these people to stay so they can vote for Obama. Is it any wonder that Texas is cleaning up their voter rolls to keep these illegals from voting? We also don’t want you moving to Texas either. Stay in your Blue State and live with the consequences.



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