Schwarzenegger's revised budget plan is expected to eliminate health programs

LA Times ^ | May 12, 2010 | Shane Goldmacher and Evan Halper

[Second Amendment First]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to present a revised budget plan Friday that would dismantle some of California's landmark healthcare programs after efforts to scale them back have been reversed by federal courts.

The rulings, issued mostly over the last two years, have already forced the state to unwind roughly $2.4 billion in cuts approved by the governor and Legislature and have alarmed other financially strapped states seeking ways to balance their budgets.

*

The court fight raises new questions about the viability of the national healthcare overhaul signed into law by President Obama earlier this year. The federal legislation assumes a substantial expansion of the costly Medicaid programs that officials in California and elsewhere are proposing to abandon.

[moose2004]

“* The court fight raises new questions about the viability of the national healthcare overhaul signed into law by President Obama earlier this year.”

Repeal and Replace!

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Two years ago, a federal court told CA that it cannot cut $2.4B of programs. This week, a court stopped NY state’s plans to furlough 100,000 state “workers.”

The States should arise, form a Union, invoke the Tenth, and tell the all-powerful feds to go pound sand.

Oh, wait. Didn’t the states already form a Union once?

[Dudoight]

If $2 billion is set aside to serve 440,000 California elderly for home health....how much is that per single elderly individual?

I don’t know how to enter that in my calculator...but that is one expensive program per person.

Interesting that the federal courts can over rule the state in forcing them to continue to spend $ the state does not have.

[Second Amendment First]

It’s time for states to just say no to federal programs with strings attached. People are waking up to the fact that we can’t afford the “free money”.

[McGavin999]

They need to take it to their court and have the court state the feds don’t have jurisdiction in a state internal issue.

[sickoflibs]

RE :” Cuts that lawmakers and the governor made to the program in an effort to balance the budget have been blocked by legal rulings over the last year. The court decisions restrict their ability to make cuts in the programs, officials said, but they don't preclude dismantling them. Abolishing home healthcare services would mean forfeiting the federal Medicaid money that helps fund them. But the money comes with requirements that the courts said California did not meet. The state would not have to follow the requirements if it did away with the program, and thus would no longer risk having its financial plans upended in court.”at : Schwarzenegger's revised budget plan is expected to eliminate health programs

Classic Washington control story. The courts do not allow cuts to the programs, but can't stop the elimination of them completely. California needs to get bailed out by the IMF so they can fully fund Obama care.

[GeronL]

I don’t see how the courts have any business writing budgets

[stephenjohnbanker]

LOL

[GeronL]

$4545 per person?

That doesn’t count them all getting food stamps/SS/MediCare and all kinds of other stuff.

[Dudoight]

$4545 per person?

Its gotta be more than that....when I multiplied that by 440,000 it came out to only roughly $2 million.

I don’t know how many 0’s are in a billion. I think probably roughly $50,000 per person. A person could get full time care in a facility or at home at $50,000 per person per year.

[bboop]

I thot that all powers not specifically relegated to the feds belonged automatically to the states and to We the People.

Perhaps those in DC have not read the Constitution. Sure seems that way.

[Leisler]

Mitt Romney has moved to California, maybe he can ‘fix’ their Obamacare like he did to Massachusetts.

/s

[GeronL]

did I miss a few 0’s?

Maybe I should work for Goldman Sachs

[Dudoight]

Maybe I should work for Goldman Sachs

LOL! Just think of your severance pay...even if your 0’s were off, you’d leave sitting real pretty money wise.

[GeronL]

I do have fat fingers, maybe I’ll fit right in.

[CIB-173RDABN]

I don’t see how the courts have any business writing budgets

---

It is hard to remember but about 50 years ago California had one of the best education system in country. The schools were funded by local taxes, and were controlled by local school boards.

Then the courts stepped in and ruled that this was not "fair". Some school systems had more money to spend on their children then other school systems. They ruled that all the money should go to the state and the state then return it prorated for the number of children.

This increased the over all cost (additional administration) but more importantly gave the state more power to regulate what was and was not taught in schools.

We have seen the results. The court in trying to be fair, destroyed the school system while helping to bankrupt the state (remember 50% of the state budget is mandated to education).

The power of the courts to over rule the will of the people will need to be addressed one of these days.

[Buckeye McFrog]

actually this shows it is time to Just Say No to the Federal Courts (which is taking us down a whole different path...)

[rollo tomasi]

Courts supersede both the Executive and Legislative Branches. Any "good" lawyer and reality will tell you that.

Let the EMATIONS fall from the sky, the judges have some engineering to perform.

[outpostinmass2]

Look at your calculator again 2 billion has 9 zeros.

440,000 X 4545= 2 billion or 2,000,000,000. Which goes to show you how a seemingly small entitlement can add up to big $ very quickly.