Yesterday, in a closed door vote (again) Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s new Medicaid Expansion plan, Healthy Access, was defeated by a 56-7 vote.
Our governor, and our legislators, and the dominant Utah GOP keep saying that they want all people of Utah to have health care, but three years after the Affordable Care Act (ACA), our state still hasn’t been able to come up with an alternative to proposed full expansion offered by our federal; government. Millions upon millions of dollars, Utah tax money, has gone to states which did expand under ACA.
Why can’t the dominant party even approve the plans they put forth? Why are poor working Utahans still without basic insurance?
Early in the argument whether to take the federal option, one argument against was that Utah already had plenty of charitable organizations to pick up the slack, or as the phrase has been coined, “Cover the Gap.” The largest organizations mentioned were churches, along with some other service providers. So it seems the legislature and leadership of Utah don’t believe it is the job of government to care for its people. It is the job of churches and charities.
Exactly who do they think has been taking up the slack in the past? Providing medical treatment and drugs for the homeless, indigent, poverty stricken, and the working poor is an expensive endeavor, and most service providers are strapped for cash to run essential programs as it is. Most of these orgs are volunteer oriented, that is to say most workers don’t receive a dime for their work. Any added burden to these efforts would be difficult.
Governor, I would love to live in a world where, because everyone realises their duty to their fellow people, and so everyone is taken care of. We could. But we don't. So we have government programs for that.
And the last time I sought help from the dominant religion through the SLC Ninth Ward, I ended up on the street again, so I suggest caution, unless you have no problem with converting to the dominant religion. Besides, the UT GOP aren’t finished thumbing their nose at our president yet.
Latest news reports say the issue is tabled until the 2016 Legislative Session. Meanwhile, people wait, grow sicker, and die.
That there is even a question about healthcare access being granted to all citizens surprises me in such a “moral” environment.
In other news, those of us (such as myself) who depend upon Social Security Income of some kind, will get no cost-of-living increase in January. Major reason cited? Low gas prices. How many people living on social security income/disability even have the means to owns a car?
So, as wars rage on (President will not pull Afghanistan troops now as promised) and prices of everything go up, the elderly, poor, and disabled get screwed. The rich, and corporations, continue to run The USofA, and our leaders at all levels give us the finger.
Election next year. Vote wisely.
Political cartoons by Pat Bagley.
Meeting at SLC Public Library tonight:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1069177716425871/
Click the links to READ MORE:
http://kutv.com/news/local/republican-caucus-votes-56-7-not-to-expand-medicaid-in-utah
http://fox13now.com/2015/10/14/utah-lawmakers-agree-to-revisit-medicaid-expansion-alternatives-in-2016-legislative-session/
Rio Grande Report on Facebook
No comments:
Post a Comment
Tell Rio what you think. Your voice matters. Your lives matter. All life matters.