Governor Jan Brewer Shows How to Play Hardball. President Obama: Watch and Learn
Yes she’s the same Governor Jan Brewer who implemented Arizona’s infamous “Zee Paperss Pleasse” law, among other rightwing atrocities. But unlike so many other Republican governors, Jan Brewer is in favor of implementing the Affordable Care Act in Arizona and expanding Medicaid coverage.
Not only is she in favor of it — she’s playing hardball with the Arizona legislature and their constant obstructing and stalling tactics. Last week she warned the legislature — both houses are Republican-controlled — that she would veto every bill sent to her desk until state lawmakers resolve the 2014 budget and pass the Obamacare Medicaid expansion.
And then she backed up her warning by vetoing the next five bills that came to her desk. In her veto message, she said:
“I warned that I would not sign additional measures into law until we see resolution of the two most pressing issues facing us: adoption of a fiscal 2014 state budget and plan for Medicaid. It is disappointing I must demonstrate the moratorium was not an idle threat.”
YEAH!!! You Go Girl!
President Obama: please take note.
The Kaiser Family Foundation has estimated that expanding Medicaid would reduce the number of uninsured Arizona residents by about a third. Fortunately Jan Brewer is listening to them instead of the Teadroolers in the state legislature. She said:
“The human cost of this tragedy can’t be calculated. Remember, there is no Plan B.”
Labels: Jan Brewer Medicaid expansion
posted by Tom Harper @ 6:30 PM
10 Comments:
OK you already did your April Fools Story Right?
Has she figured out that if Arizona expands their Medicaid to their low income residents that Redneck Sheriff will throw them in jail if they show up for treatment?
Of course the real motive may be to balance the budget then show there is no money for the Medicaid!
Erik
Well these red states like Arizona are going to have to comply with the law and the sooner they start measures for implementing the changes needed the better for them. I wonder if the republicans in the Arizona state legislature have enough votes to override her vetoes and therefore don't care whether she vetoes or not? I know here in Indiana there are super majorities in the legislature and so the teabags/fuckwits can do pretty much what they want.
Did she have a lobotomy?
This is proof that even the blind squirrel find the nut once in a while, and even a broken clock tells the correct time twice a day.
Rick Perry would be smart to follow this example in Texas too, but, well... Rick Perry just isn't smart.
Jan Brewer may also not be very smart either, but at least she has balls. And, well... Rick Perry doesn't.
And her being smart about Affordable Health Care shows that she at least has an independent streak, but that I think we already knew.
I think it is highly probable that she sees the writing on the wall for the GOP. Continually attacking the president during times of an obvious economic recovery hasn't worked, and all the Tea Party stuff isn't working either. Maybe it's time to move back toward the middle a bit.
Erik: True, she could have those ulterior motives. But it's still refreshing to see her stand up to the teawads who are even further to the right than her.
Life: That's a good question, whether the state legislature could override her veto. Same with Tennessee, whose Republican governor vetoed an "ag gag" law. There's been speculation that the Tennessee legislature might override his veto.
Lisa G: LOL. One has to wonder.
Snave: I guess Rick Perry could make anybody look smart. Some Republican politicians will see the writing on the wall and make their adjustments as needed; others will keep spouting the same teatard rhetoric 'til the day they die. Hopefully Jan Brewer will stay in that first category.
She's trying to get a third term even though it's against AZ law. She figures that since she was appointed the first time she gets a do over. That being said, the GoOpers see the handwriting on the walls as far as demographics of the country are going and they need to get in front of it before they are relegated to Whig status as a party. I will give her kudos for this but I will remain my cynical self because she is not doing this out of the goodness of her heart. My guess is she sees this sweet sweet federal money and will get it then use it for something other than what it is to be for.
Jess: You're right, there's no way Jan Brewer is doing this out of kindness or generosity. But I'm glad she and a few other GOP leaders are finally seeing the writing on the wall and doing what they need to do.
Or maybe she'll just take the money and use it for more racial profiling.
Arizona's economy has suffered because of several stinging bouts of bad publicity about how Republicans' Robinhood-in-reverse policies have devastated the state's most needy people. I think some 21st century, sentient Arizonans have managed to impress on Brewer what harm all the bad PR she, Arpaio and the GOP neanderthals in the legislature have generated is doing to the state. She apparently has been smart enough to listen and at least in this matter change course.
The woman isn't totally nuts. Good post. I missed this.
SW: I think you're right about Arizona being damaged from all they bad publicity they've earned. I'm glad Brewer is smart enough to see the writing on the wall and change course when it's necessary.
Anonymous: Thanks. I'm glad Jan Brewer had a moment of sanity.
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