Florida will not implement Obamacare

[Geee]

Washington Times:

Obamacare, in its effort to force everyone into a health insurance plan, is attempting to treat a symptom - the uninsured - rather than the cause of the problem.

I think everyone agrees there are far too many who want health insurance and can’t get it. But the truth is, the real problem isn’t with health insurance. The underlying cause is the rapidly increasing cost of health care.

Instead of forcing people into another big-government program that eliminates natural incentives to keep costs down, we should be focused on free-market reforms that make health care more affordable. With costs lowered, more people would have access to medical doctors and services, and we wouldn’t have to place another heavy burden on taxpayers to make it work.

After the U.S. Supreme Court’s stunning pronouncement on Obamacare, all 50 governors face two big decisions:

1. Do we let the federal government impose a massive Medicaid expansion on us?

2. Do we establish a state insurance exchange or let the federal government come in and run it?

 

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My answer is simple. No. We just can’t afford it.

Medicaid is the fastest-growing part of our state budget. And unlike the federal government, which isn’t required to balance its budget, we could only pay for expanding Medicaid by increasing taxes or cutting from other parts of the budget. Expanding Medicaid puts other vital government functions, such as education, public safety and infrastructure, at risk. That is not something I am willing to do.

History repeatedly has shown that the costs of many government health care programs far exceed early projections. This daunting reality is not unique to Florida. Washington acts as if it’s doing states a favor by covering the first few years of expanded Medicaid payments, but where does it think those tax dollars are coming from? Floridians, as well as taxpayers from every other state, are the ones footing the bill. Furthermore, once the responsibility begins to shift away from the federal government, states will be left to start picking up the tab, putting too much pressure on state budgets.

We already have safety-net programs that cover the needs of the most vulnerable in our state. But if we don’t implement a real solution to our health care and economic problems, there will never be enough programs to meet the demand. Since 2009, I’ve advocated a solution that implements four pillars of free-market reforms: choice, competition, accountability and personal responsibility.

[Draggingtree]

Dear Governors of the 49 Other States, Rick Perry Shows You The Way

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Erick Erickson (Diary)

 

Monday, July 9th at 10:26AM EDT

 

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Rick Perry is leading the way for other governors in the United States, some of whom — even Republicans, are starting to get cold feet on the issue of exchanges and medicaid.

 

Rick Perry is drawing a line in the sand and giving Washington a “hell no.”

 

Under Governor Perry, Texas will not create

 

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