Posted on 09/20/2013 8:55:00 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Washington’s Gov. Jay Inslee has warned Congress, in a blunt letter, to recognize the “real world” and not to impose any more “needless, self-inflicted” wounds on the American economy.
The governor’s letter came on a morning when the Republican-run U.S. House of Representatives voted — almost entirely on party lines — to fund the federal government until Dec. 15, but only if implementation of the Affordable Care Act (aka. “Obamacare”) is halted.
“You should not allow the peoples’ health care to be held hostage,” Inslee wrote to Congress’ leaders. “It is troubling that some in Congress would stop government from functioning as a last-ditch move to stop implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
“With out economy and employment still in the process of recovery — and already set back by unnecessary, self-inflicted wounds like budget sequestration — Congress must recognize what is at stake in the real world, including here in Washington State. A federal government shutdown would result in furloughs for workers, and vital services denied to taxpayers.”
The governor urged Congress not only to keep the federal government running, and the Affordable Care Act on track, but not to play games with extending the federal debt limit.
The House Republicans are considering attaching a raft of conditions to debt limit extension, from approving construction of the Keystone XL pipeline to binding instructions on overhaul of the tax code. The Senate is unlikely to approve a halt to the Affordable Care Act, or other partisan proposals.
“I am also aware that the federal government will soon reach its statutory borrowing authority — or debt limit — and that some in Congress are considering using the threat of the first-ever U.S. default as a means to achieve their goal of blocking health care reform,” Inslee wrote.
“This approach is equally, if not more, irresponsible that threatening a government shutdown, and I also urge you to reject it now.”
This state is moving ahead with implementing health care reform, having created a Washington Health Benefit Exchange and expanded its state Medicaid program — “both of which will expand health coverage while also saving the government over $300 million,” Inslee wrote.
“While some in Washington, D.C., may want to continue the debate, here in Washington state we are finding ways to give more people better health care at less cost to them and the government.”
The Governor is not likely to find a receptive audience on the other side of the political aisle.
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., who chairs the House Republican Conference, stood with House Speaker John Boehner on Friday morning as Republicans demanded a halt to health care reform as the price of keeping the federal government in operation for the next 75 days.
Even Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash., the delegation’s supposed moderate, has been siding with his leadership on such measures as Thursday’s vote to cut $40 billion from food stamps over the next 10 years and throw 3.8 million recipients off the program next year.
A-dub Inslee voted for nearly all that sort of crap before he bailed out of the House of Reps.
Loser.
There was more bipartisanship to defund it than there was to pass it in the first place!
He’s just another fascist, er Democrat, same thing. Who cares what he says.
Notice how the little scumbag says, "saving the government over $300 million"? Not the taxpayers - - the government. That's the way these scumbag Democrats think.
If healthcare were only in the hands of healthcare practitioners, I wouldn’t be concerned. But it is even more in the hands of the insurance companies, for profit hospital administrators, and big Pharma, so I do worry. There have been reports that in several states which have been implementing Obamacare that costs are actually going down. Any information pro or con on that situation??
Hey...Governor Inslee....here is my answer to you, www.dontfundobamacare.com
FUJI
What would Jay Inslee know of the real world?
“While some in Washington, D.C., may want to continue the debate, here in Washington state we are finding ways to give more people better health care at less cost to them and the government.”
Wow; the people of Washington elected a governor that believes in magic!
It is simply impossible to add untold numbers of people to the existing healthcare system while reducing cost to everyone effected.
And how can it be possible to give more people better healthcare while keeping or reducing the number of medical professionals?
The answer can only be magic! Yes the governor of Washington believes that by saying the proper words (passing legislation) that her fondest desires can become reality!
The true reality is of course that the Affordable Care Act is systematically reducing the number of working health care professionals. The Cleveland Clinic just this week announced that early retirement would be offered to 3000 employees and that lay offs maybe coming.
Doing more with less is possible but generally only at the margins and when pushed too far what happens is that less is done with less and it is frequently done poorly.
“...having created a Washington Health Benefit Exchange....”
I got on there the other night thinking it would have a list of insurance providers. The only thing I saw of any use was the “calculate your cost” thingy. Over $1300 a month for a family of five!!! Oh, and I had to put in my info., so now my email is full of crap and I’ve had two phone messages from them.
Still trying to figure out if I should dump my current insurance (went from $360 to a soon to be $1150 a month in 3 years!).
All I can say is I’ll be glad when Obamacare fully kicks in so it will be free. (Right? It is going to be free. Isn’t it?)
There is another related website with the name, get this: www.Ilovemyplan.com !!
It’s good work being poor if you can get it.
/S
“Though the insurance exchange is supposed to bring down costs for people without job-sponsored coverage, it won’t help Hattey and an estimated 226,525 other uninsured Missourians. They make too little to qualify for government subsidies.
Yes, too little.”
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