If one wants a case study in the insanity that has gripped the Republican Party across the country, look no farther than the Virginia GOP and the GOP controlled House of Delegates. Thanks to shockingly gerrymandered districts, many of the Republican delegates have no reason to be in touch with objective reality because of the ignorance and insanity of the Christofascist/Tea Part dominated electorate in their districts. Add to that the lunacy that is the norm in much of rural Virginia, especially in the Southwest areas of the state and you have a recipe for political disaster. These people would rather shut down the state government rather than compromise or pass measures that would benefit some 400,000 poorer Virginians - in large part because they wrongly think most of these Virginians are minorities. Racism is very much alive and well in the Virginia GOP. In a main page editorial, the Virginian Pilot blasts the GOP obstructionists. Here are excerpts:
State lawmakers have spent months arguing over whether to accept the return of billions of dollars in federal taxes paid by Virginians to expand health insurance for poor Virginians over the next several years.
The decision is a no-brainer, a conclusion that an increasing number of states - led by both Democrats and Republicans - have already reached.
Virginia is among the dwindling minority where Republicans, concentrated in the House of Delegates, have clung to partisan opposition and a smattering of half-baked complaints to justify their obstinance.
Hospitals and businesses, including the state and local chambers of commerce, have made a sound case for using federal dollars to expand insurance coverage, and they've noted that subsidies for treatment of the uninsured will be reduced.
The House Republican leadership - led by Speaker Bill Howell, Majority Leader Kirk Cox, and Dels. Chris Jones and Steve Landes, the Appropriations Committee's chairman and vice-chairman, respectively - have played leading roles in their caucus's unwillingness to collaborate on a solution that uses federal funds instead of state money for certain health-care-related expenditures in the upcoming budget.
The stonewalling and grandstanding have reached a point where a solution that incorporates some form of Medicaid expansion into the next budget appears increasingly impossible.
The petulance and theater have long since grown tiresome. Dragging budget discussions into June is unacceptable; shutting down government or funding operations through executive action would be shameful.
Lawmakers have failed to fulfill their primary obligation in the regular session, and they've wasted precious weeks of the current special session without seriously deliberating or negotiating over Medicaid expansion or other elements of the House and Senate budget proposals.
House Republicans gave their approval last year for creation of the Medicaid Innovation and Reform Commission, which was supposed to approve expansion of Medicaid after a series of reforms were made. Despite reforms, House members on the commission have since refused to give that approval, another reason for the bad faith that hangs over Richmond.
The influx of federal tax dollars through expansion of Medicaid could help stabilize Virginia's economy, strengthen the next budget and improve health care across the commonwealth. It's an important issue, and one that advocates - including the governor - should continue to push for.
The Marketplace Virginia plan represents a worthy private-market alternative that helps satisfy the objective of the federal Affordable Care Act, provide better access to health care for up to 400,000 lower-income, uninsured Virginians and help hospitals remain financially whole.
House Republicans will be responsible for offering some way to extend health insurance - and care - to 400,000 Virginians. For passing a plan that balances the human benefits, stewardship of tax dollars and the financial health of the state's hospitals.
Today's Virginia GOP is the party of obstruction, ignorance and a rejection of common sense, It only knows how to say "no."
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