Sam Brownback, as most people know, has turned Kansas into the poster child for Republican governance. He, along with a likeminded Republican legislature, has implemented all the Koch brothers policies to the fullest, and has practically destroyed the state in the process. You might say he is giving the country a preview of what we can expect in the coming years.
So, in light of the events of the past few days, this is really interesting:
Jonathan Shorman: Medicaid Expansion Moves Forward in Kansas: “Kansas state lawmakers advanced a Medicaid expansion proposal on Thursday…
…The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee passed the expansion proposal, House Bill 2044, on a voice vote. The bill now heads to the Senate floor. The committee chairwoman, Sen. Vicki Schmidt, R-Topeka, expects the Senate to debate the bill…. More than 150,000 people could potentially receive health coverage under Medicaid expansion in Kansas. Expansion would help close the so-called “doughnut hole”–where individuals make too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to receive government subsidies to buy insurance…. Sen. Laura Kelly, D-Topeka, said lawmakers have no idea how the debate in Congress will turn out. The Kansas Senate has the votes to pass expansion, she said.
via Brad Delong
While Brownback’s former colleagues were busily trying to destroy Obamacare, Brownback himself has managed to do so much harm in Kansas that likeminded Republicans are buying into the Medicaid expansion that their compatriots in Washington are trying to destroy.
Somewhat encouraging, except the people of Kansas, who should now know better, continue to vote Republican. Not entirely their fault, of course, given Democratic incompetence, but still, the state must be well stocked with dead brain cells.
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