Statement from Karen Carter Peterson, Senator – District 5:
“I think we should judge a policy by its content, not the person proposing it. To be clear, I didn’t call any person “racist.” Rather, I was simply relaying the truth about conversations I’ve had with my colleagues and the factors they considered on the expansion of Medicaid. While others are using this as an opportunity to take my comments out of context in order to distract from the true issue, I think it’s critical that we focus on the substance of the policy because it’s the right thing to do for Louisiana. Expanding health care access is a vital issue for the people of Louisiana, no matter what it’s called or who offers it. The Republican Party and even our very own Governor have chosen to twist my words and I would politely suggest that they review the attached transcript that reveal what I actually said.”
[transcript below]
Transcript from 5/28/13 HB 533 by Kleckley – Senate Floor
@2:13 SENATOR PETERSON:
This isn’t about the administration and it should not be about the administration of the state nor federal level when it comes to Obamacare but in fact it is and why is that. I have talked to so many members in the House and Senate and you know what it comes down to? Are you ready for this? It is not ab how many federal dollars we can receive. You ready? You want to know what it’s about? It’s about race. Now nobody wants to talk about that. It’s about the race of this African American President because this same thing has been offered by who? By former Speaker Newt Gingrich in the past. Yeah he had a similar bill to what President Obama has offered. Similar legislation was offered! It comes down to the race of the Pres. Of The US which causes people to disconnect and step away from the substance of the bill. So I agree with Senator Buffington, it shouldn’t be about the title. It should not be about the title. It should be about the subject matter and others have shared that with me personally. “You know the reason I can’t support this Senator Peterson is not because of you, but it is because I cannot go back to my district and face my constituents and tell them that I embraced, not Medicaid expansion, not 100% of funds going to help the uninsured of Louisiana, I cannot say I supported Obamacare.” So I guess we can’t support JindalCares either. I think that’s what it all comes down to if we are honest with ourselves. But we’ll continue the madness here in this state. We will leave here on June 6th, the Hospital Association you will get what you want because this bill is about to pass but what will you do after that when these Private-public partnerships don’t work? What will you do? Will you come back to the legislature begging us to help you expand Medicaid? Will you be on the front line with stickers then asking us to step up? Well you can do that now. There’s time, time will tell.