Tag: Medicaid

We have apparently inoculated ourselves.  In the complaint Halbig v. Sebelius it is shown that an application of the law as-it-is-written means Michigan taxpayers are NOT eligible for subsidies, and NOT subject to the tax (penalties) assessment for failure to obtain insurance. Netright daily reports:

"Under the specific language of the law, tax subsidies (and tax penalties) on individuals and employers only apply in states that created these exchanges. It's right there in black-and-white -- as the availability of subsidies was expressly confined to qualified plans enrolled "through an Exchange established by the State."

Obamacare makes no mention of these subsidies being provided in federal exchanges.

The plaintiff argument on this point is clearly stated starting at about page 10 of the document.

A big THANK YOU to those who stood firm in their resolve against the state run exchange will be repeated as this case moves further along and the act is found even more unworkable as the miserable failure spawned by overreaching NEO-Democrat (read fascist/socialist) operatives in power.  It was theirs.  Let it remain owned by those who have no understanding of the constitution.

Recall that NOT a single (not even the squishy ones) Republican voted for this garbage.

Too much money to be thrown away apparently, so procedural changes will allow early law enactment, and potentially "save" the state $100 million on the Medicaid expansion legislators approved earlier this fall. A couple weeks shaved off the end of this session rolls the start date for the new medical WELFARE recipients to line up at the trough.

"The Michigan Senate plans to adjourn several weeks earlier than usual, which would allow the newly expanded Medicaid population to begin enrolling by mid-March, rather than early April.

While that's not a lot of time, it does add up, because Gov. Rick Snyder's administration has said the delay is costing the state about $7 million a day. Once the expansion takes effect, the federal government begins picking up the tab for other services the state is now paying for, and the state previously had budgeted for the expansion to begin Jan. 1."

From discussions, outreach and even the most casual conversations on Friday at the island, it was very easy to get the sense that many Republicans on the island were VERY open to the idea of exorcising the Governor. Even though one watching the broadcast last night live might have seen an excited party, the reality is that a great number of the GOP active types would prefer a new nominee, and some (not quite a majority) would be willing to endure gridlock for a few years.

The good news for my part is that there are still three possibilities.  

They are quite aware there is a growing support for a replacement, and two of them have indicated an interest in becoming that replacement if things fall together.

Good times.

The National Review has an interesting piece that raises some questions about our own accountability trail with regard to purchasing large systems, and awarding contracts.  Apparently Michigan is being used to circumvent Illinois' tougher bid process and timeline for the purpose of Medicaid processing. According to Illinois officials:

" "Illinois has an intergovernmental agreement with the state of Michigan and CNSI is one of Michigan's vendors," Jakubek wrote in an e-mail. "Communication with MI and the entire project team is ethical and necessary to work on this project."

Read the entire story.  

The 'whistle-blowing' sources will be protected, as the reporters are legit.

This picture courtesy of Joan Fabiano of Grassroots in Michigan

Oh and BTW Henry?  Thanks for the timely commentary.

Perhaps speaking to 38 would have been easier. However next week, there will be a reconciliation between the Senate amended version and the house version of HB4714.  Of course you realize that failure to stand at such an important juncture, in opposition to Obamacare, would not be well received in the conservative community?

I have no doubt that after Bobby Schostak and Team Snyder snubbed you with their attempt to run Dave Camp, that you know where your base of support has been.

(Top, right to left): Sen. Randy Richardville, R-Monroe; Sen. Tory Rocca, R-Sterling Heights; Sen. Jim Marleau, R-Lake Orion; Sen. Mike Kowall, R-White Lake (Bottom, right to left): Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw; Sen. Geoff Hansen, R-Hart; Sen. Howard Walker, R-Traverse City; Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba