Leadership? Not so much…
As I reported last month, tea partiers in Michigan have been working diligently against their own self-interest, trying to prevent a state-run health insurance exchange from being formed in Michigan. The exchange, mandated by the Affordable Care Act, would help up to a half million Michiganders obtain affordable health insurance.
If the state doesn’t create one of their own, the federal government will do it for them. And that, apparently, is exactly what is going to happen in Michigan because Governor Rick Snyder has backed down from his push for the Michigan-run exchange:
Gov. Rick Snyder is abandoning hopes of setting up a state-run health insurance exchange system after repeatedly failing to convince fellow Republicans in the state House to authorize the program, The Detroit News has learned.Instead, the governor will pursue a joint partnership with the federal government to create an online portal for customers to shop for health insurance as mandated by President Barack Obama’s health reform law, Snyder spokeswoman Sara Wurfel confirmed Wednesday.
“He would have preferred a state-based exchange so Michigan can control its own destination instead of the feds being in driver’s seat,” Wurfel told The News.
This is what I wrote last month:
What these maroons don’t appear to realize is that, if the states don’t create their own health insurance exchanges, one will be imposed on them by the federal government, the exact thing they say they are adamantly and loudly opposed to!They are also bucking hospitals that are counting on more insured Americans to help expand Medicaid coverage to our poorest citizens…
It’s frightening to me that a group of people that are so clearly misdirected are having such a major influence on our elections. If they were consistent in the application of their ideology, it would be one thing. But they are not. Theirs is a highly reactionary approach, one where they fight with outrage, even if it’s against the very thing they claim to be for. And, too often, their position is based on misinformation, lies, and a total lack of understanding of the issue at hand.
That’s no way to run a society. Our Founding Fathers would be embarrassed.
So now they will get what they want … errr … DON’T want: a federal government-run program that the state has no say in.
Well, done, my tea party friends. I’m not sure how this helps your cause but you win.
