Last updated on 2021.04.07
Todd Epp reports that MoveOn.org is moving on Governor Dennis Daugaard's unconscionable refusal to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act:
With the right strategy, we can force Governor Daugaard to expand Medicaid—or pay a steep political price. Our plan is to:
- Run a series of radio ads that will earn media attention and drive down approval ratings
- Give intense national support to MoveOn members organizing in South Dakota, enabling them to organize lobby days and other high-visibility events
- Use social media and online ads to build up support for Medicaid expansion and put pressure on Governor Daugaard
- Commission polling that shows that governors who refuse to expand Medicaid will pay a political price in November
[Anna Galland, fundraising e-mail, MoveOn.org, 2014.01.22; quoted in Todd Epp, "MoveOn.org Targets Governor Daugaard's Medicaid Stand," Northern Plains News, 2014.01.22]
Hey, how about including some support for the Democratic candidate for Governor, Joe Lowe, who's already out in front on that effort?
But maybe Joe and MoveOn are already making a difference. Some South Dakota Republicans seem to be reading the polls and seeing they'd better get with the program and expand Medicaid before it costs them their jobs:
Senate Republican Leader Tim Rave of Baltic said he doubts the Legislature would expand Medicaid to the full extent envisioned in the federal health care overhaul, but that lawmakers will likely talk about seeking federal approval to extend coverage to a smaller group of low-income people.
The federal government has so far refused to give South Dakota that flexibility, but House Republican Leader David Lust of Rapid City said he hopes federal officials will change their minds.
"I do think we could craft a resolution that is appropriate and effective for our situation in South Dakota," Lust said ["GOP Leaders Open to Partial Medicaid Expansion," AP via Watertown Public Opinion, 2014.01.20].
But Republican leaders can't just do the right thing. They have to find some way, any way, to duck and weave behind their punitive GOP mindset and anti-government talking points:
Rave said he could back a plan to expand Medicaid to those who need it most, for example a single mother working two part-time jobs to support two children. The kids likely are already covered by a Medicaid program but the mother might not qualify for Medicaid and cannot afford private insurance, he said.
"I think most South Dakotans would go: 'Gosh, that seems the right thing to do. Let's figure out a plan to do that.'"
Lust said both sides in the debate have compelling arguments. Expanding Medicaid would help low-income people, but the state also has to consider whether the federal government can afford to pay for the expansion, he said.
The best solution would be to cover those most in need of insurance, Lust said.
"Unfortunately, the federal government has prohibited that kind of flexibility. I'm hopeful that will change," Lust said [AP, 2014.01.20].
Senator Rave won't expand Medicaid without leaving himself the satisfaction of telling some poor soul, "You're not worthy!" Rep. Lust won't expand Medicaid without at least mouthing his concern about the federal budget, which never comes up when the Legislature finalizes a state budget that relies on the federal government for 41% of its funding.
But that these Republican leaders are stepping back from their anti-ACA, anti-Obama absolutism and opening the door to Medicaid expansion shows that the message is getting through: opposing the practical health benefit, economic stimulus, and moral good of this provision of the Affordable Care Act is a political loser. Telling voters in November, "We're helping sick people!" will win a lot more votes than saying, "We turned down millions of dollars and let people suffer to fight Barack Obama!"
Uzani, his army with fists closed.
Lust lost all of his credibility when he was all in to sell the School of Mines for pennies on the dollar. Lowe has struck a chord with this Medicaid expansion and as long as there are enrollments going on and honest people can clearly see the harm being done by this regime, Denny and Lust and the Rave "gosh, that seems like the right thing to do" bozoheads are gonna get clobbered by their neighbors.
Scuttle the entire ship, Dennis! Never surrender!
I didn't see anything in the quotes by Rave and Lust, as to who they will leave out. I know some poor working stiff who is paying alimony or child support, but doesn't earn enough to buy insurance, but too much to be under the 130% of poverty. Let him sleep under a bridge, even though he is working and paying his responsibilities.
With any luck, Chris, that scuttle started at the national level and the Democrats are paying attention, and will realize that we need to shrink our military spending and particularly to stop aiding countries with our money and troops to solve issues that are better resolved at the table than on the battlefield.
If Denny's big hold up is the availability of federal funding, why can't we expand it conditioned on the ongoing availability of those funds? At least then people could get covered for a while and we could advantage of the federal funding while it is available.
Here are the funds that Denny is speaking of. Under Obamacare, starting in 2014, everyone with income below 133 percent of Federal Poverty Level will be eligible for the Medicaid Expansion. For the first three years of the expansion, taxpayers will pick up the full cost of the expansion. This 100 percent funding rate will phase down to 95 percent in 2017, 94 percent in 2018, 93 percent in 2019, and 90 percent in 2020. The max possible hit in 2020 is 10%! With it not changing after that. As this expansion will surely stimulate our economy here, that possible 10% may not be a factor. It is clear, like you say CAH, this is all about fighting that Black Man, Barack Obama rather than taking care of our working poor. Move On will shine the light on these cockroaches and send them scurrying for political cover, ain't gonna happen for them though. The big foot of the voters is about the drop on their sorry behinds.
It does appear that state Republicans are now realizing that Medicare Expansion and Joe Lowe's support are now resonating with South Dakota voters and making this a very big political issue.
Once again Republicans are all about "grouping" or isolating all the people that need medicare coverage.
"Doing Nothing is not an option", so says the governor of Utah. http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57438301-78/medicaid-expansion-health-federal.html.csp
Wow, even the Mormons have gotten this stuff figured out and here is ole Denny, still looking at his belly button and wondering how in the hell he can punish the working poor even more.
You've got it right, jerry. The right usually wants to punish anyone who is seeking help whether they are a burden because of laziness or whatever. But in this case it is folks who are working, but earning too much to qualify but not enough to afford health insurance and as usual will fall through the cracks.
You are correct Roger C. I thought that when Denny and the cutthroats attacked the Medicaid in the nursing homes and cut funding drastically, there would be more of an outcry. That compassionate conservatism in his first days as cappo. There was some push back, but nursing homes cut wages and made other cuts from our most vulnerable. That was not good enough, so he and the rest of the republicans went after the working poor. Because we citizens are mostly ignorant of what is working poor, we got educated right quick like with this Obamacare enrollment. Now we see just how hurtful this bunch is and how little regard they have for our friends, neighbors and relatives that struggle each day to make ends meet as best they can with no kind of healthcare safety net. Now we all realize what little they are paid to do the valuable work they do. The voters are fixin to vote and they ain't to happy about the way this outlaw bunch have been running the ranch with too many unaccounted for strays. Issue oriented politics are whats at stake and I agree with you, I think they are having a come to Jesus on this one, we shall see.
Jerry,
One of things that South Dakotan Republicans can do so aptly is fool their poor and working poor with social issues (i.e. abortion, ACA, abortion).
I know so many Republicans that are poor or working poor that blindly follow their leaders based on emotion and fear to the point that they'll reject an opportunity for better healthcare because they don't believe in abortion.
Hopefully Joe Lowe's campaign will impact these people and let them know what Daugaard is really doing to them.
The right does try to punish those needing help. But,when it comes to korporate welfare,they go out of their way to kill with kindness.
In SD, expansion of medicade will be corporate welfare to the 2 monopoly hospitals. They will reap millions and millions of dollars. That's why they are campaigning for the expansion. They will insure you, tell what Dr. you go to, charge you to death, than if you don't pay, send their collection agency after you. We need real reform. Check out Mike Myers. He knows how the game is played. He has the background and experience being CEO at Mayo/St Marys in Rochester, and other big hospitals, plus being a health care law professor at USD for 26 years. He knows his stuff and he will do much more for the people of SD than just expand medicade. Let's get some debates going and invite Dennis Daugaard.
One of the things that Rave said was about single mothers holding down two jobs and how the mother should have the medicaid expansion. Republicans always blather about the so called sanctity of marriage but yet they do not acknowledge that the working poor are both a husband and a wife that do not make enough with their two jobs each to qualify for a subsidy. The kids have Medicaid, but not their parents. So the cowards hide behind a "working mom" scene but do not recognize a working poor family for this life saving coverage. They actually encourage divorce as a means to be able to access the Medicaid expansion in Rave's small thinking.
Tara, if Medicaid expansion really is corporate welfare, what is the policy alternative that gets coverage to the working stiffs like the guy Lanny mentions without enriching the corporate owners of our health care system? Does candidate Myers have an Issues page that lays out an alternative for meeting this need?
Yes, Candidate Myers has a plan. I would rather have him explain it. Instead of the hospitals insuring you and making huge profits, the people will own it as their own cooperative. It takes the insurance companies out of if. He will put the expansion money into the cooperative.
Are we talking a public insurance pool that covers everyone, rich and poor? Is this something South Dakota can do on its own, or is this a national reform?
It's past time I schedule that phone call with candidate Myers. Can you pencil me in for tomorrow or Monday morning?
excellent movement. how many will die during this republican delay of expansion? capitalism and healthcare makes sense for the 1%. the jersey i'm wearin come superbowl sunday is "47 PROUTY"
Cory, get your pencil ready. Professor Myers will be very happy to tell you his plan for the PEOPLE Sun. after Mass. 10:00AM-Noon. His home number is 605-552-2425. No softball questions allowed. I went to the cracker barrel in Mitchell today. I really think people that are paying attention to the issues are getting sick and tired of phony politicians. They reply with feel good answers and they don't want to offend there party operatives or corporate donors. Thanks Cory
KELOLAND has a story up on Gov DD seeking a waiver for expanding Medicaid. http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/sd-governor-seeks-medicaid-expansion-waiver/?id=159531
Here's something that I hope everyone in Pierre will read.
"Predicted national-level consequences of states opting out of Medicaid expansion are displayed in Exhibit 2. We estimate the number of deaths attributable to the lack of Medicaid expansion in opt-out states at between 7,115 and 17,104. Medicaid expansion in opt-out states would have resulted in 712,037 fewer persons screening positive for depression and 240,700 fewer individuals suffering catastrophic medical expenditures. Medicaid expansion in these states would have resulted in 422,553 more diabetics receiving medication for their illness, 195,492 more mammograms among women age 50-64 years and 443,677 more pap smears among women age 21-64. Expansion would have resulted in an additional 658,888 women in need of mammograms gaining insurance, as well as 3.1 million women who should receive regular pap smears."
http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2014/01/30/opting-out-of-medicaid-expansion-the-health-and-financial-impacts/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=opting-out-of-medicaid-expansion-the-health-and-financial-impacts
Denny and the rest of the republican legislators are sadistic killers. They want to extract some kind of revenge against our working poor and this is the way for them to feel powerful against those that cannot defend themselves. The only gain they get out of this is from the out of state donors that lavish gifts on them for their hatred and that is who they are beholding to.