Gov. Asa Hutchinson says here that he’s sorry about the defeat yesterday of the Graham-Cassidy Obamacare repeal which would have thrown millions in America off health care coverage, drastically reduced Medicaid money for the states (with a disproportionate impact on Arkansas) and ended federal law protection against ruinous insurance rates for people with pre-existing illnesses.
I feel comfortable in saying that the more than 300,000 Arkansans who’ve benefitted from the Obamacare Medicaid expansion — and countless others helped by other parts of the Affordable Care Act — don’t share the governor’s sadness.
“Despite the failure of Graham-Cassidy, and regardless of the constraints of the current system, I am committed to our ongoing reform efforts in Arkansas Works and traditional Medicaid, and will continue to focus on creating a more efficient, sustainable system of healthcare in The Natural State for future generations.”
Translation: He’s forging ahead with plans to strip at least 60,000 Arkansans of coverage in a bigger long-range plan to reduce Arkansas support for the medically needy. This apparently will continue to make at least some Republican voters happy.
A fascinating article by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s John Moritz illustrated. It was about a Republican primary race shaping up to succeed Rep. Bob Ballinger (Neanderthal-Hindsville) because he’s seeking a Senate seat. Gary Morris of Sonora said he’s a long-standing
Wedge issue? We shall see.