Gov. Phil Bryant released the following statement on the National Guard furloughs announced today:
“These furloughs are disappointing to the men and women who are working to protect the very freedoms we hold dear. The worst part is that while the Obama administration is making cuts to our nation’s military and defense industry, there are those who believe we should continue to trust this administration’s promises when it comes to expanding the largest entitlement program in our nation’s history. This announcement comes as the Mississippi Department of Employment Security announced the closing of seven full-time and six part-time WIN Job Centers. As we can see, this administration can’t event pay the bills it has now – why should we expect them to honor their Medicaid promises and expand the program?”
Bryant trying to hang the furloughs around the president’s neck is a bit disingenuous. It was just as disingenuous when the president was trying to hang it around the necks of the GOP leadership in Congress.
These furloughs come as part of the sequestration agreement, and everyone knows it. Sequestration was passed by Congress and agreed upon by the president because at the time it seemed like such a horrible set of cuts that it would force Congressional leaders and the White House to reach a budget compromise.
But Congress had to learn a lesson the American people have known for a while: Never underestimate Washington’s ability to do nothing no matter how bad the situation gets.
But Bryant trying to make Medicaid hay out of this issue is just downright absurd. Obamacare is the law of the land. Medicaid expansion is taking place in most every other state. Mississippi has too many uninsured working people — not “deadbeats,” mind you, but working people — who need access to health insurance.
I’m still not convinced that a straightforward expansion of the Medicaid program is a good idea, but there are several alternatives being discussed in other states. We need to start having those discussions here, and lawmakers need to be involved.
I hope that Bryant will call a special session to reauthorize and fund the Medicaid program as is. I equally hope that Democrats will do the right thing and agree to the vote without expansion debate during a special session.
After that has been done, then an open, honest and, admittedly, difficult debate should be had about if, when and how Mississippi should expand Medicaid. That discussion could happen in the same special session, or it could take place in the regular session in January.
But enough of the politics around it, Mr. Governor. The furloughs are unfortunate, but it has nothing to do with Medicaid. You know it, and playing politics with Medicaid isn’t doing any good for the hospitals and the working people of Mississippi. And the same thing can be said to Democrats who are standing in the way of a clean vote on re-authorization and funding.
Put politics aside, and deal with a difficult issue. It would be a good change of pace.