The current debate over how to fund Medicaid is the most irrational, absurd, asinine political parlay I have ever seen.
There are two options on the table, and any reasonable person can see what the best one is. The two options:
- Fund Medicaid by raising taxes on cigarettes.
- Fund Medicaid by raising taxes on hospitals.
The clear choice is option #1. But we have a governor who is a former tobacco lobbyist, and he’ll roll over in his political grave before he allows a tax hike on cigarettes.
He almost did just that two years ago. Barbour’s approval ratings were in the 30s just three months before Hurricane Katrina hit, in large part because he decided to cut nearly 50,000 people off of the state Medicaid system.
Now he’s threatening a cut of $375 million to the program, which will be devastating to the people of this state who rely on Medicaid for health care.
Granted, the best solution would most likely be a combination of the two options. It would mix a revenue stream that is sure to shrink — a cigarette tax hike — with a more manageable tax that would not be passed on to sick people — a hospital tax hike.
But short of Barbour and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, who remains characteristically behind the coattails of who ever is leading him by the nose, accepting a compromise, then the House should drive forward with the cigarette tax and force Barbour to make the cuts.
While devastating, the cuts to Medicaid will most likely not have the same long-term affects of a tax on hospital beds. We don’t repeal taxes very often, and businesses are not going to take a tax hit without passing the cost along to the consumer, in this case a sick person who needs a bed in which to be treated.
Barbour’s logic in this is sick but not surprising. He is showing where his true loyalties lie, which are with big, corporate interests. In short, he’s never really stopped lobbying on behalf of cigarette companies. He’s just added governing on their behalf to his repertoire.
For more on this issue, here’s a few suggested reads:
- Latest post on CottonMouth, this one by Jeff Walters.
- Sid Salter’s column from Sunday.
- John Mott Coffey’s piece in the Commercial Dispatch.
- Sid Salter’s blog post on Phil Bryant.
In parting, let me say this. I had the great honor to serve the Speaker as director of the Democratic caucus in the House. There are few men I’ve met with his character and integrity.
Anyone who believes Billy McCoy would play politics with the well-being of thousands of Mississippians does not know this man’s true heart.
Unfortunately, I fear the same can be said of people who believe Barbour is acting in the best interest of our state.
