While Republican Committeeman John Scates states that “the social welfare gravy train is riding into the sunset,” what he fails to mention is that the era of the unaccountable politician rages onward.
I applaud State Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal for pointing out the hypocrisy present in our government’s actions. It doesn’t matter who sought the increase in the executive mansion budget. What matters is that we have a governor who, while making no personal sacrifices, places the burden of fiscal responsibility on Missouri citizens.
Someone committed to fiscal responsibility should make at least a symbolic sacrifice affecting his or her life. Governor Blunt could have tightened his belt and saved some money by holding off on a special session that was called to serve certain political interests. Or Blunt could issue an executive order halting mansion renovation until the Medicaid Reform Commission comes up with a replacement to the old system. Anything!
Scates uses misleading statistics in saying that Missouri ranks #2 in Medicaid payments – this is true only when one includes payments financed by federal funds. The federal government pays for more than 60 percent of all Medicaid expenditures in Missouri. And, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers, Missouri ranked 34th in the nation in 2003 in terms of state general fund Medicaid expenditures per state resident.
All you have to do is look at the Medicaid cuts to see where Blunt’s priorities lay – under the cuts, a mother of two can make no more than $308 per month to qualify for Medicaid. I know people with no kids making $1,500 per month who cannot afford health insurance.
And, yes, I’m sure that no one wants to debate “who has the best master.” That’s the kind of statement one would expect from an insecure white kid trying to boost his street cred in the eyes of his black peers. Grow up.
Chris Fleming
St. Louis