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* Tribune…
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday said he’s worried Illinois “won’t do very well” if the proposed U.S. House Republican Obamacare replacement plan becomes law.
The governor’s comments were his first since congressional Republicans unveiled their changes Monday. The plan would cut federal funding to Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor and disabled paid for with state and federal dollars.
In Illinois, about 3 million, or 1 of every 4, residents are on Medicaid, including about 650,000 people insured under Medicaid expansion. The state is getting an estimated $14.1 billion in federal money this year to support traditional Medicaid and Medicaid expansion.
The House GOP plan would switch state reimbursement from a federal match to a limited amount of money, blowing a big hole in a state budget that’s already severely out of whack amid a record impasse in Springfield.
Rauner referred to the proposal as “a pretty significant shift” but said he hadn’t had a chance to “analyze every piece” of the legislation.
* AP…
[Gov. Rauner] says he’s especially concerned that it will result in “pressure to reduce insurance coverage for people in Illinois.”
Rauner says it’s clear the Affordable Care Act is not affordable and it needs to change.
He says “I support changing it but we’ve got to be thoughtful about it.”
So… it’s not affordable and he supports changing it, but he doesn’t like the pressure to reduce insurance coverage?
* Related…
* What The Obamacare Replacement Bill Means Depends On How You Get Your Coverage
* House Republicans release long-awaited plan to replace Obamacare
* G.O.P. Health Bill Faces Revolt From Conservative Forces
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 2:28 pm
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Rich
You make the mistake of really believing what Rauner says. This is all about Rauner distancing himself from Trump.
Comment by Ok Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 2:37 pm
OK, YUP! Those words are about as useful as “I support the grand bargain.”
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 2:46 pm
In the same way that he has been “thoughtful” about higher ed & social services funding here in Illinois? I guess that means it will be “an emotional decision” when he has to cancel insurance programs.
Comment by Out Here In The Middle Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 2:46 pm
So, if the GOP healthcare plan passes, people are going to die, and a lot of people are going to lose HC as well as their savings.
So maybe it’s time to offer some governing, and some solutions, and some planning.
Comment by Blue Bayou Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 2:49 pm
I’m having a hard time believing Rauner even really cares whether or not someone has insurance or health care for that matter. What happened to the persistent, competition before compassion, rascal he has snickered about being??? After all these months of “leverage” Rauner now has sweat on his brow worryin’ about folks he used to (nursing homes) and wants to (anyone in Illinois at this point in time) capitalize on??? Sorry, not buying his sudden concern.
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 2:49 pm
If only the Governor had worked with the legislature to improve the state’s fiscal health so that we’d be able to better accommodate a change in policy from Washington.
Comment by AC Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 2:53 pm
“If only the Governor had worked with the legislature to improve the state’s fiscal health so that we’d be able to better accommodate a change in policy from Washington.”
Raising taxes and spending more money will not make the State’s fiscal health better, it will just drive more business and population out of the State much like the last temporary tax increase did.
Comment by Arock Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 2:59 pm
== it will just drive more business and population out of the State==
That’s happening right now, even with the precious lower taxes.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 3:04 pm
=Raising taxes and spending more money will not make the State’s fiscal health better, it will just drive more business and population out of the State much like the last temporary tax increase did. =
Evidence?
Paying the bills is bad for the economy? Check.
I wonder why California and Minnesota are ok then?
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 3:10 pm
It looks like the gov has no cred no matter the subject.
Comment by jimk849 Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 3:12 pm
“Raising taxes and spending more money will not make the State’s fiscal health better”
We’ve continued spending at a high rate without raising taxes, which has been deviating to our fiscal health. Had the focus been the budget, and fiscal discipline, rather than “structural reform” we’d be in much better shape.
Comment by AC Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 3:22 pm
Rauner has zero credibility. As far as the Republicans and the ACA, the Pottery Barn rule is now in effect: “you break it. you own it.” The gig is up. Their replacement is a mess, a giant interest group deal of their fractious caucus. But the tea party purists won’t go for it, nor will those Republicans who are afraid of their people losing coverage.
Comment by formerpro Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 3:30 pm
Rauner, let me explain it to you. The GOP congresscritters want to block grant so they can reduce the money they spend on Medicaid. Of course, that will worsen IL budget problems that will have to be addressed by a governor who actually wants to deal with them.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 3:32 pm
He forgot to say, “Excellent.”
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 3:38 pm
Rauner’s comments should carry some weight in say, Roskam’s district, where Hillary won, or in Bost’s district, where Duckworth won.
I give credit to Rauner.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 3:44 pm
Why should he care about this? He certainly hasn’t demonstrated any credible concern for anything or anyone else.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 3:48 pm
Rauner attacks the bill from the left and from the right, because he has no social agenda and doesn’t want to be distracted from his goal of dismantling the unions.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 3:50 pm
Yeah, he hates it because it interferes with his narrative of “Because Madigan!”
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 3:58 pm
What? Twenty-five percent of Illinois residents are on Medicaid! Jeeze Louise.
Comment by Keyser Soze Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 4:16 pm
25% is an unsustainable number. If they are smart (and I highly doubt that) they will use this opportunity to reform the system. Otherwise it will continue to break us.
Comment by BIG R. Ph. Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 4:22 pm
Mr/Ms Big R
where do think the “reformed” Medicaid folks go? They will no be vaporized or teleported to IN or MO.
They will return to the emergency room and the cost of uncompensated care will be reflected in what we all pay.
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 4:26 pm
Who IS Thrilled these days? About anything?
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 4:28 pm
Maybe a past governor shouldn’t have signed up for Medicaid expansion. Maybe some past governor shouldn’t have promised an aai. Maybe some past governors should have made required pension paymnts. Maybe this governor should match spending to revenue. Woulda,coulda, shoulda.
Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 4:28 pm
Majority of Medicaid recipients are low-income seniors and children.
Do commenters here want to see them have nothing so that you can get a few bucks back in taxes?
If so, say it clearly.
Comment by Blue Bayou Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 4:30 pm
BB. That would be me.
Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 4:33 pm
bdd, how much would you like to get, in dollars, even though collectively a lot of older folks and sick children could be spared an early death as well as the crushing debt it causes their families?
Comment by Blue Bayou Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 4:35 pm
Plan on your taxes going up again the truth is we’ve become a welfare state . Feds won’t pay so you poor saps that live in Illinois get the bill. Congratulations .
Comment by Truth Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 4:39 pm
BB. I would like every dollar back I can get. Just like every state retiree wants every dollar he/she was promised. Maybe every professor at one of out state universities can take a 25% reduction in pay. Most of us middle class folk want every dollar we can get, at least I do anyway. This I do know. You can overpay your state income tax as much as you want and earmark it for debt. It will make you feel good.
Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 4:46 pm
The Congressional Republicans are like dogs chasing a car. They’ve finally caught Obamacare, but now they don’t have a clue on what to do.
Comment by Rogue Roni Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 4:55 pm
Decimating Medicaid wouldn’t just impact the poor, due to EMTALA it would transfer costs to hospitals. Those hospitals will transfer their increased costs to insured and cash patients and or they would cut services. Because emergency care is more expensive than routine and preventive care, it could very well cost more with worse outcomes. So, every dollar saved on taxes could very well end up increasing insurance rates by a dollar.
Comment by AC Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 4:56 pm
25% of Illinois on Medicaid with a 5.8% unemployment rate. $22,000 spent per capita on Medicaid. That’s messed up. Tells me the low end of the income scale is not a living wage. If you work, you should be able to buy groceries and afford insurance for your family.
Comment by Markus Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 5:05 pm
===Rauner isn’t thrilled with ACA replacement proposal===
Neither are the 625,000 Illinoisans who benefit from the expanded Medicaid coverage that is about to be slashed.
Rauner isn’t thrilled, but then again, he ain’t countin’ on Medicaid if he gets sick. All Rauner has to do is balance a budget, not choose between medicine or food.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 5:17 pm
I’ve said for a while now that Springfield is going to be struck hard with th state budget impacting state workers and the ACA repeal will hurt the hospital workers.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 7:29 pm
For a really smart, successful guy, rauner never knows the details of ANYTHING. Whether his own budget, the grand bargain, ACA, or anything. But he always knows it isnt good enough, to continue damage and destruction.
Words
Deeds
Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 8:40 pm
Markus.
Where do you get $22,000 per capita for Medicaid?
Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Mar 7, 17 @ 10:51 pm
===BB. That would be me.
And when hospitals go bankrupt in the rural areas of the state you’ll be complaining again. I get that everyone wants something for nothing, but either you pay hospitals for the care they are going to provide one way or another or you don’t have hospitals anymore.
Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 12:00 am
Wasn’t the ACA used as a reason for the bargaining position the State was taking with AFSCME? If the ACA and its burdens are possibly going to be removed, would that mean the Governor and the State will take a more nuanced approach to negotiating with the union?
Comment by Delimma Wednesday, Mar 8, 17 @ 8:37 am