Republican Governors Oppose Unfunded Healthcare Mandates

Posted by admin in Press Releases on November 24th, 2009 | 11 Responses

Where do the Democratic governors stand?


Republican Governors Haley Barbour (MS), Tim Pawlenty (MN), Rick Perry (TX), Bob Riley (AL), Sean Parnell (AK), Jan Brewer (AZ), Sonny Perdue (GA), Linda Lingle (HI), Bobby Jindal (LA), John Hoeven (ND), Mitch Daniels (IN), Mike Rounds (SD), Gary Herbert (UT), Jim Douglas (VT) and Governor-Elect Bob McDonnell (VA) expressed their concerns with the impact the healthcare legislation pending in Congress would have on state budgets during a press conference today at the Republican Governors Association Annual Conference.

The governors expressed particular concern about the cost of expanding Medicaid and urged their Democratic colleagues to also speak out about the bill’s impact on state budgets.

RGA Chairman Haley Barbour noted that the House’s healthcare bill would cost Mississippi $200 million more per year in expanded Medicaid costs. In Georgia expanding Medicaid would cost the state $2.4 billion over 5 years, and it would cost Indiana $1.4 billion over 10 years.

Democratic governors face massive budget deficits next year, which would only be exacerbated by the federal government forcing states to expand Medicaid eligibility.

“Democratic governors and candidates have a decision to make,” said RGA Executive Director Nick Ayers. “Will they stand with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid? Or will they stand with the taxpayers in their states?”

Projected FY 2010 Budget Deficits in States Where Democratic Governors Are Seeking Reelection Next Year

· New Hampshire: $250 million

· Massachusetts: $5.6 billion

· New York: $20.9 billion

· Maryland: $2.8 billion

· Ohio: $3.6 billion

· Illinois: At least $3.2 billion

· Iowa: $1.2 billion

· Arkansas: $235 million

  • http://utahgop.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/federalism-and-the-scc/ Federalism and the SCC « Utah GOP Blog

    [...] started by saying that the had just returned from the Republican governors confab and that they are united in their desire to avoid the creation of the nanny state that the federal government is trying to push on us. He [...]

  • http://Website(optional) pat youmans

    I live in South Carolina and I’m very concerned about the escalating costs of everything and especially what these Federally mandated programs will do to people like my husband and me who are retired and not seeing our income increase as rapidly as our utilities , taxes, food bills and health care costs are.
    We thought we had planned well for our future . We are debt free. We have always contributed to needy causes as well as to our church , but I resent bailing people and companies out who have failed because of their imprudence and lack of fiscal restraint .
    It is high time that we start requiring more personal accountability from all of our citizens —We own nothing to all non-citizens .

    Pat Youmans
    Beaufort, S C

  • http://Website(optional) James F. Hux

    .I would like to see all states declare their sovereignty and
    walk away from any and all unfunded mandates. I also
    think (and pray) that we will all be surprised how few democrates are left after the next elecxtion.

  • http://Website(optional) Cindy

    Then why don’t all the Rep. Governors make a trip to DC to protest this nonsense? Are you too busy to stand up for your states? Get on a bus and head up there and shout it from the steps of the Capital that you aren’t having it if it really matters to you.

  • http://Website(optional) Cindy

    See if I were Governor of Mississippi or Arkansas I would be FURIOUS and I would not be voicing my “concern” I would be shouting my OUTRAGE but I guess it is just the same old same old game here in the GOP sit back and do nothing but “lets voice our concern so it looks like we care wink wink nod nod” Thanks for the update guys but until you get serious why don’t you just give us all a break. Its clear that we are on our own and we don’t need your concern we need ACTION

  • http://Website(optional) Andrew

    Where is Tim Pawlenty (R) MN?
    I know he’s fighting to keep the State Budget Balanced.
    but with Senators like Klobuchar (D) MN and Franken (D) MN, we need all the help we can get up here.

  • http://Website(optional) Sharon Gray

    I sincerely am grateful for the Governors that are in our corner-WE THE PEOPLE, that is. I simply can not see how so many educated, ignorant people can look us in the eyes and add 2+2 and get 12 billion dollars, that I have NO say about, and yet I get the tab, and OH by the way–I will loose my good health care just as I will most likely need it since I am 63. I am a southern lady born and bred and I won’t use the language I think about that!! Give THEM THE AXE, RICK !!!!And by the way “Gig ‘um AGGIES”!!!

  • http://Website(optional) mrs.Dolores Aitkins

    we do not want socialized medicine

  • http://www.solutiontohealthcare.net Tom Burns

    I have developed a Solution to Healthcare. Basically give all control back to Private Insurance Companies, shut down Medicare/Medicaid,take the legislative control from the Federal Government and give it back to the States. To view a detail description on the Solution to Healthcare go to http://www.solutiontohealthcare.net .

  • http://www.ubervu.com/conversations/www.rga.org/homepage/republican-governors-oppose-unfunded-healthcare-mandates/ uberVU – social comments

    Social comments and analytics for this post…

    This post was mentioned on Twitter by The_RGA: Where do the Democratic governors stand on unfunded healthcare mandates? http://tinyurl.com/ycf6l3z...

  • http://Website(optional) charlie dunham

    unseat all the liberals and impeach all the leaders of the socialist demon-oratict party and take back GOD and CONSTITUTION for Greatest country in the world. charlie dunham. charliedunham39@yahoo.com

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