On Three! One, Two,….
The nation’s governors, Democrats as well as Republicans, voiced deep concern Sunday about the shape of the health care bill emerging from Congress, fearing that the federal government is about to hand them expensive new Medicaid obligations without providing the money to pay for them.
The role of the states in a restructured health care system dominated the National Governors Association’s summer meeting here this weekend – with bipartisan animosity voiced against the Obama administration’s plan during a closed-door luncheon on Saturday and in a private meeting on Sunday afternoon with the secretary of health and human services, Kathleen Sebelius.”I think the governors would all agree that what we don’t want from the federal government is unfunded mandates,” said Gov. Jim Douglas of Vermont, a Republican who is the group’s incoming chairman. “We can’t have the Congress impose requirements that we are forced to absorb beyond our capacity to do so.”
The governors’ backlash creates yet another health care headache for the Obama administration, which has tried to recruit state leaders to pressure members of Congress to wrap up their fitful negotiations. In its effort to win support for the health plan, the Obama administration dispatched Ms. Sebelius – who was governor of Kansas before she joined the cabinet in April – and the federal Medicaid chief, Cindy Mann, to meet here with the governors. Meanwhle, other administration officials spent Sunday pushing the proposal on television talk shows.
One is reminded of the old Cheech and Chong routine about the kamikaze commander briefing his pilots before the big day:
“Today,” he exhorts, “you will take your kamikaze airplane high into the sky, over the Yankee aircraft carrier, then take the kamikaze plane down, crashing on the deck, killing yourself and all aboard. Before we have the ceremonial sake toast, are there any questions?”
A hand rises tentatively in the back of the crowd: “Honorable general-san: Are you out of your flipping mind?”
As I recall it, the recruit did not use the word “flipping”.
On three, commit political suicide by voting for Obama’s plan!
I suspect that this means that Obama has seriously tried to overreach on this plan. I also suspect that any member of Congress, from either house, that votes for this plan will be in severe trouble back home at the next election. I think the governors (from both parties) just sent a very, very clear message.
So, step up the pressure and start calling your Senators and Congressman. Just ask the Cheech and Chong question.
By Anthony (Los Angeles), July 19, 2009 @ 7:54 pm
I wonder if the law of unintended consequences will come into play here: by overreaching so badly, Obama will cause a strong reaction toward small, limited government. Already there’s a small but growing push for “Bill of Federalism,” and one amendment proposed in it would prohibit unfunded mandates. I imagine that would be very popular with most state governors.
BTW, 3 points for the Cheech & Chong reference – that’s one of my favorite routines of theirs.
By martian, July 20, 2009 @ 1:46 pm
Health care may end up being the downfall of both Obama and the Democrats in Congress. The way things are going now, by 2010 all any candidate will have to say to get elected is “I’m not a Democrat and I would not support the president’s health care plan.” Congressional Democrats, especially Pelosi & Reid are in the process of working their own demise and they don’t even seem to be aware of it.
By Mockingbird, July 20, 2009 @ 2:39 pm
Cheech and Chong would be better than Obasmas and Biden. At least they worked as capitalists!
By Harmony, July 21, 2009 @ 1:46 am
I’ve resigned myself to believing that most people in the U.S. are either just plain stupid and/or they’re more interested in reading the drivel in People magazine, e.g.
Short of a revolution, I had no idea how we could prevent the destruction of our country as long as this poor excuse for an American occupies our White House. Then we have the Congress who were elected to represent us. They should all be forced to step down after two years. In other words, they should not be allowed to make a career out of it. Their heads swell and they love the power—over us.
I am heartened by the responses of the U.S. Governors. They are standing up to the obamanable
government-controlled health care plan.