Our “Counter” View IS IN BOLD, ITALICS AND UNDERLINED AND EMBEDDED into the Petoskey News-Review’s editorial board’s (Ryan Bentley, Zac Britton, Rachel Brougham, Doug Caldwell, Brandon Hubbard, Jeremy McBain and Babette Stenuis Stolz) comments below and which appeared in their newspaper (on Friday, October 4th, 2013) and on-line at this link;  Our View: Benishek: Are you a Republican first or a resident of the 1st District?

Disappointing. Frustrating. Avoidable,….REALLY?  No,…we say Proud. Supportive. Inevitable. 

There are certainly many strong words to describe the situation involving the U.S. government shutdown in Washington, D.C., which is in its fourth day today, Friday (October 4th, 2013).  

We say Amen and Thank God,…we favor shutting down even more federal government spending programs and departments; [youtube_sc url=”http://youtu.be/U-F0ajiWLEQ”]

In our opinion, our Federal Government is spending way too much money and needs to get their fiscal spending under control,…this inevitably had to happen!

We could certainly speak generally about the Republican Party‘s laughable attempt to throw an economic  and literal temper tantrum involving the Affordable Care Act along with the Democratic Party’s lack of efforts for compromises that don’t involve the Affordable Care Act.

We say most of the Republican Party in the U.S. Congress (House of Representatives) are acting as the ONLY adults in Washington D.C. and are putting our principles over politics as usual, especially Dan Benishek!  If anyone are acting like young children and throwing temper tantrums its Harry Reid the Democrat Senate Majority Leader and President Obama.

Today, however, we’re more than disappointed in our elected Representative, Dan Benishek.  “We the People” of the 1st District are proud and supportive of our elected Congressman Dan Benishek.

When an official is elected into office, they are naturally expected to represent their district and be a leader. He has not met those expectations.  We believe on this issue,  Dan Benishek has represented our district and has been a leader in standing up and representing our principles.

The key issue over the past few weeks — although officials in Washington, D.C., have failed to properly address for several years by going the route of financial extensions — deals with the federal budget. Not laws approved and signed nearly four years ago, but the financial resources of the U.S. government.

Agree,…but who has been responsible for NO  federal budget?  President Obama’s budget did not receive ONE single vote in the Democrat controlled Senate,…the Senate hasn’t even passed a budget,…even though the House which Dan Benishek is a member, has passed several budgets!  So who is not doing their job on the federal budget issue?  Answer,…the President and the Democrat controlled Senate!

Instead, Benishek chose to vote for a budget that acted as if the Affordable Care Act was suddenly voted in four weeks ago.  Wrong, Dan Benishek voted to extend the continuing resolution (CR) AGAIN, which would have funded all of the federal government except for the funding of “Obamacare” (the Affordable Care Act,…which it isn’t) because Dan Benishek vowed to repeal it when he ran for and was elected to office in 2010 and again in 2012.

We don’t mean to keep repeating it, but House GOP officials have tried and failed more than 40 times to repeal the law. The Supreme Court allowed it to stay with subtle changes. Hundreds of thousands of people have gone online this week to research and even sign up for health insurance.  Again wrong, wrong and wrong!!! 

The House GOP,…HAS repealed “Obamacare” 43 times,…only to have Harry Reid not even bring it up for a vote in his Senate while President Obama acts like a spoiled child not willing to compromise on any aspect of this legislation which bares his name, except for giving exemptions to HIS corporate donors, allies and unions!

The Supreme Court didn’t allow it to stay with “subtle changes”!  Chief Justice John Roberts said “Obamacare” is only Constitutional as a “tax”.   Since ONLY the House has the power to originate spending bills/laws as a new tax and since the “Obamacare” tax law originated in the Senate and since the House controls the ‘purse strings’,…they have the  constitutional right to de-fund it;

Click on this link: Defund “Obamacare” with a “Stand Alone Bill in the House”!!! By Dr. Harold Pease 

Lastly,…computer hackers have checked out the “Obamacare” website to find out that barely 10,000 people (as of Saturday morning) have actually been successful in enrolling in “Obamacare”,…not “Hundreds of thousands”!

That’s apparently not acknowledged in Washington.  If parents say “no” 40 times, should kids keep doing it?  If your boss say “no” over and over, do you keep doing your job exactly as you see fit?  Does this mean we can drive on the other side of the road now?  Not pay our monthly bills?  The parents ARE the real Republicans in Washington!!!  Why doesn’t Harry Reid and President Obama listen to the U.S. House of Representatives like Dan Benishek? 

Of course not, we all have responsibilities. Benishek’s responsibility is to be a leader.  How exactly is he being a leader by not acknowledging a law, which will have significant benefits to many people in Northern Michigan, and instead vote along the party line? Then placing the blame at a specific political party and the president of the United States? 

Again, Dan Benishek ran for office back in 2010 to do everything possible to repeal “Obamacare” and/or to defund it,…he won that election and was re-elected in 2012 to continue fighting against this law and the Democrats and a President that rammed it through without ANY Republican input or support.  When are YOU going to accept the fact that Dan’s promise to the 1st District on this issue was instrumental in his winning two elections?

Our representative has been clear from the beginning of his distaste for the law, stating he wanted to see it repealed and replaced with a “patient-centered approach.” Three years in, we’re still awaiting to see what this “better” idea would be.  Dan Benishek and the Republicans have a better plan of free market solutions, tort reform, interstate insurance plans which would lead to competiton and insurance cost reductions, etc…   But the Republicans can’t get anything accomplished until “Obamacare” is repealed or de-funded and the Democrats including their main stream liberal media (like the Petoskey News-Review) are forced to listen to their plans, hold discussions in the Senate and with this President, which is what we expect our elected officials to do!

That all aside, is all this disagreement worth stopping the wheels on the U.S. economy?

The wheels on the U.S. economy haven’t been stopped,…the stock market has been fine, banks are open, gas prices have actually dropped here in Northern Michigan the past couple of days and plenty of food and products are still in our stores!

The federal budget is more than health care. It is more than just military spending. It is more than open parks and recreation areas. It is more than one political party or another.   Again,…what federal budget?

The problem is that’s all tied together because elected officials didn’t like something and voted along party lines to stop all of it. Now popular tourist options are shuttered, small businesses are left wondering about loans, veterans are left seeking answers for assistance, government employees are out of work and even house sales are being held up.

Once again, Dan Benishek and the House of Representatives voted to fund EVERYTHING that the federal government does, except for ObamaCare,..so who is really causing all of these services from being provided?  Answer, Harry Reid and President Obama,…NOT Dan Benishek!  You cannot blame other people for not giving you everything you want. And it is a fraud to blame them when you refuse to use the money they did vote to approve, especially when it is ample to pay for everything else in the government.

So yes, Northern Michigan is going to be affected by this. It’s a threat to our well-being, so we have to ask: Is Benishek a Republican first or a resident, supporter, representative of the 1st District of Michigan?   On this issue, Dan Benishek  is a Republican AND a resident, supporter and a TRUE Representative of the 1st District of Michigan! 

The answer to that question was clear from Benishek’s predecessor, Bart Stupak. He knew a thing or two about leadership, setting an example in his final term by standing up to his own political party when he disagreed with certain aspects of the Affordable Care Act. He held firm for a few days, got his point across and got a handshake deal for changes from the president himself.  No temper tantrum. No blame of one political party or another. The economy’s wheels kept turning. Stupak clearly listened to the residents of his district, looked in the mirror and showed leadership.

Yes,…Dan Benishek’s predecessor who believed an “Executive Order” signed by this President was worth the paper it was written on,…and then went along with the party line to support this law, only to realize that it wasn’t what our 1st District wanted,…so he then chose to not run for re-election and retired from politics!                          

With his professional background, Benishek could provide a more forceful, informed argument and example of leadership. He has a medical degree and he has, by all accounts, been working in that profession for more than 30 years treating and helping people. Undoubtedly, he has worked with people on employer-supported health plans, Medicare and even no insurance.

Finally some true facts,…all of which is why Dan Benishek is so much against “Obamacare”!

What would have been the response if he simply closed up shop one day during his surgical career? Didn’t keep appointments or not even have someone answer the ringing phone in his office?

Don’t get this analogy at all,…Actually, Dan Benishek is still working in Washington, has agreed to forego his salary during this government shutdown and is answering his phones,…you obviously haven’t tried contacting him.   Feel free to call Dan’s Washington DC office at;  202.225.4735  or his District Offices at;  877.376-5613 .   You can also email him by clicking HERE.

All because he didn’t like something that is a small part of his office’s responsibility?  Well, he just did close up shop, risking the immediate financial future of many businesses and families in this district to try to prove a point.  Again, more flat out lies and misrepresentations!  To use Dan Benishek’s campaign slogan,…”Enough is Enough”!!!

Our View’ represents the opinion of the News-Review editorial board: Ryan Bentley, Zac Britton, Rachel Brougham, Doug Caldwell, Brandon Hubbard, Jeremy McBain and Babette Stenuis Stolz.

Our “Counter” View represents the opinion of Patriot Voice Radio and it’s talk show hosts:            Greg Marshall, Brian Sommerfield  and “Trucker Randy” Bishop – Chairman of the Antrim County Republican Party.

We can be heard Monday – Friday on 94.5 and 93.9 FM in Northern Michigan and on-line at; http://patriotvoiceradio.us/ starting at 9:00 am until 6:00 p.m.

WASHINGTON (TheBlaze/AP) — Democrats in Congress have made it clear they do not plan to negotiate with Republicans in any fashion until the U.S. House passes a “clean” continuing resolution to fully fund the government and Obamacare.

That was evident late Tuesday when House Democrats killed a GOP bill aimed at reopening small slices of the federal establishment, including the Department of Veteran Affairs, the Park Service and a portion of the Washington, D.C., government funded with local tax revenue.

After a Tuesday strategy session, Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) said if Democrats are “really concerned about funding the VA, let’s fund it.”

However, Democrats generally opposed all three, saying Republicans shouldn’t be permitted to choose which agencies remain open and which stay shut. As a result, all fell well short of the two-thirds majority needed for passage.

The White House also issued veto threats against the bills, drawing a jab from Michael Steel, a spokesman for Boehner. Obama “can’t continue to complain about the impact of the government shutdown on veterans, visitors at National Parks, and D.C. while vetoing bills to help them,” he said.

Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas) blasted House Democrats for killing a bill to “allow elderly, disabled WW2 vets to visit the WW2 Memorial.”

“Democrats are on a rampage,” he wrote on Twitter, later adding that “President Stompy Feet told Democrats to kill veterans funding.”

Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) said in a statement that it is “reckless and shameful that President Obama and House Democrats are putting Obamacare ahead of the interests’ of our nation’s brave veterans, and of school children and families across the country who wish to visit our rich National Parks and museums.”

“House Republicans will continue to work in the interest of the American people, and the President and Democrats should stop holding our nation hostage to their demands for their own special exemption from Obamacare, and their shameful desire to impose health care mandates on American citizens but not big businesses,” she added.

Several House Democrats used the occasion to seek a vote on a standalone spending bill, a measure that Rep. Elizabeth Esty of Connecticut said would “end the tea party shutdown.” The requests were ruled out of order.

Republican aides said all three bills that were sidetracked could be brought up again on Wednesday under rules requiring a mere majority to pass. They said the House might also vote on a measure to reopen the hospital at the NIH, after several Democrats cited the impact on patients.

“They’ve shut down the government over an ideological crusade to deny affordable health insurance to millions of Americans,” Obama said of Republicans in the White House Rose Garden on Tuesday.

Pending a miracle, the partial government shutdown will stretch into its second day on Wednesday.

“During the past three years, I have worked with my colleagues to ensure that state government remains accessible and accountable. In those efforts, We succeeded in our efforts to reform spending, balance the state budget, and construct an environment that attracts job creators and raises the standard of living for Michigan families.

“As I’m sure you are well aware, the federal government has not used the Michigan model for providing efficient and effective leadership. 

“We do have some thoughtful federal legislators committed to helping taxpayers and building a healthy economy, but as a whole, the federal government has failed to produce a workable budget and has effectively shut down. However, I want to assure you that all state offices and departments will remain open, as the budget we completed and passed in June goes into effect today.

“I am proud to say that, over the past three years, I have worked with my colleagues to pass a balanced budget four months early each year, which is quicker than it has been done over the past 30 years! It was a ‘Team’ effort. This process resulted in paying down more than $21 billion in debt and saving almost $580 million in the state’s rainy day fund. We have achieved these goals by making difficult decisions, offering common-sense solutions that deliver real, proven results, and providing a predictable, stable framework for the hard-working taxpayers of our state.

“Please know I will continue to fight for Michigan conservative values and make sure our state is a place where our children and grandchildren can prosperously live, work, and raise a family.”

It took nearly 20 hours of debate in two committees. But Common Core State Standards finally got a passing grade from the House, Thursday, September 26th, 2013.

Our State Representative Greg MacMaster voted NO!!!

Members voted 85-21 for HCR 11, the concurrent resolution that would allow the state to continue spending money to implement the standards while instituting a laundry list of conditions for the implementation. 

The vote came after a two-hour Education Committee meeting this morning, during which Rep. Tom HOOKER (R-Byron Center) won an amendment to the now-1,400-word resolution that would have required the Governor, lawmakers and local school officials to take assessments based on the standards. 

Then, the amendment said, the result or refusal to take the tests “shall be published by state and local media sources.” 

“I think it’s important for legislators, superintendents and boards to know what’s in the tests,” Hooker explained this afternoon. He added, “If they aren’t able to recognize it by taking the tests, then there are some serious problems.” 

Although House Education Chairwoman Lisa Posthumus LYONS (R-Alto) voted against Hooker’s amendment, it still passed 9-8. HCR 11 itself passed 11-5 out of committee this morning. 

Later on the floor, Rep. Bill ROGERS (R-Brighton) won his own amendment to remove the language requiring elected officials to take the assessments from the resolution. 

Rogers, who chairs the House Appropriations School Aid Subcommittee, said he had a simple question about the testing requirement: How would the state afford to test lawmakers and all local school board members? 

“I have no idea what it costs,” Rogers said this afternoon. “But I know it’s going to cost something.” 

That cost would likely cut into current education funding levels that are already a topic of hot debate in Lansing, Rogers noted. 

Asked how he thought lawmakers would do on the testing, Rogers paused then said, “Probably, very poorly.” 

“I frequently hear how kids are coming home and parents can’t help them with their homework,” Rogers added. “So you think we’re really going to just walk in and pass this thing?” 

Katie CAREY, press secretary for the House Democrats, responded jokingly that Rogers was being a “good fiscal conservative” when it came to his focus on the costs of the testing. 

“Why couldn’t this come out of the Legislature’s budget?” Carey asked, however. 

Before Rogers won his amendments, multiple lawmakers privately questioned this afternoon how they would be able to succeed on testing concerning subjects they hadn’t studied in decades. Another lawmaker could be seen jokingly pumping his fist on the House floor when Rogers’ amendment was adopted. 

Outside of the testing debate, the Common Core resolution, which had been in the works for months, easily passed the House today. 

The 21 “no” votes — all Republican — were far short of what would have been needed to kill the resolution, sponsored by Rep. Tim KELLY (R-Saginaw Twp.). 

The resolution was the result of a special subcommittee chaired by Kelly over the summer. The subcommittee took about 15 hours testimony on Common Core before Kelly released his resolution earlier this week. 

Those 15 hours were on top of two hours of testimony the House Education Committee took earlier this year and two more hours the committee took before voting today. 

Legislative action was needed because lawmakers put a pause on Common Core funding in the Fiscal Year 2014 budget. 

Under the budget, the Michigan Department of Education won’t be able to spend money on implementing Common Core unless the Legislature casts an affirmative vote for the standards. 

After all the work this summer, Kelly said he was pleased with the vote in the House today. 

But while lawmakers added numerous conditions to the resolution to try to get more votes for the proposal, Kelly said he wasn’t sure whether any of the amendments lawmakers considered actually won additional votes. 

Some of the lawmakers who wanted amendments ended up voting “no” anyways. 

“If we would have polled this vote back in June, I think we would have seen similar results,” Kelly said. 

Some of the conditions added to the resolution today focused on the Smarter Balanced Assessments connected to Common Core and the appropriateness of the standards for young children. 

Rep. Theresa ABED (D-Grand Ledge) helped get language in the resolution that specified that local school boards can develop different standards related to geometry for high school students and to developmental standards for kindergarten through third-grade students. 

Abed, who had voiced concerns about the developmental appropriateness of Common Core for young learners, ended up speaking out for HCR 11 on the floor today. 

“We need to lift the pause button so our schools can proceed forward,” Abed said. 

The resolution also features a provision that requires the State Board of Education and the Michigan Department of Education to issue a full report on student assessment options for Common Core. That report is due by Dec. 1. 

Many lawmakers, like Rep. Tom MCMILLIN (R-Rochester Hills), have major concerns about the Smarter Balanced Assessments connected to Common Core. Currently, Michigan is in a multi-state consortium working on Smarter Balanced. 

The problem, according to some lawmakers, is that if Michigan decides to alter its standards, the assessments, which will be developed for multiple states, may not reflect the Michigan-specific changes. 

And if the testing decides how schools are rated and how teachers are evaluated, McMillin said today, “That will drive curriculum.” 

McMillin, who’s been vocal about his opposition to Common Core, voted against HCR 11. Afterward, he said today’s events likely won’t be the last debate on Common Core in Michigan. 

“In December, we’re going to get a review, and I think it’s going to be clear that Smarter Balanced is bad,” McMillin said. “And maybe, we’ll get out at that point.” 

He added, “This isn’t over.” 

HCR 11 now goes to the Senate for consideration. 

Common Core: Where They Stood 

The following Republicans voted NO on HCR 11 today:

Jon BUMSTEAD (R-Newaygo), Mike CALLTON (R-Nashville), Kevin COTTER (R-Mt. Pleasant), Kevin DALEY (R-Lum), Jeff FARRINGTON (R-Utica), AnthonyFORLINI (R-Harrison Twp.), RayFRANZ(R-Onekama), Bob GENETSKI (R-Saugatuck), Ken GOIKE (R-Ray Twp.), Hooker, Martin HOWRYLAK (R-Troy), Joel JOHNSON (R-Clare), KenKURTZ(R-Coldwater), Dan LAUWERS (R-Brockway), Tom LEONARD (R-DeWitt Twp.), Greg MACMASTER (R-Kewadin), Tom http://gophouse.org/representatives/southeast/mcmillin/MCMILLIN, Peter PETTALIA (R-Presque Isle), Phil POTVIN (R-Cadillac), BruceRENDON(R-Lake City) and Pat SOMERVILLE (R-New Boston). 

House Speaker Jase BOLGER (R-Marshall) voted “yes” on HCR 11. 

“Michigan parents deserve high expectations and accountability in our educational system so that all children can learn and succeed,” Bolger said in a press release today. “I commend the many representatives who dedicated countless hours to do their homework throughout the summer on this issue. The subcommittee’s and Education Committee’s work on this resolution will help ensure that children across Michigan can excel with a high-quality education regardless of where they live.” 

Rep. Sam SINGH (D-East Lansing), who was the minority vice chairman for the Common Core Subcommittee, also praised today’s vote. 

“Just a few months ago, Common Core was a divisive issue in Lansing,” Singh said in a press release. “But after taking time to listen to varying opinions and working together to craft a resolution, Republicans and Democrats came together to help our schools give kids the best education possible.” 

GREG MACMASTER FOR 37th STATE SENATE RECEIVES WIDESPREAD SUPPORT

KEWADIN – Greg MacMaster, Republican candidate for the 37th Senate District, Michigan, has earned the endorsement of key grassroots, conservative Republican leaders.

Former Congressman Pete Hoekstra, former Speaker of the House Rick Johnson, Republican National Committeeman and former State Representative, Dave Agema, former Michigan Republican Party Chairman, Republican National Committeeman Saul Anuzis and former Republican National Committeeman Chuck Yob top the list of endorsements.

“Greg MacMasters’ voting record proves his conservative stance to protect the rights of Michigan residents .  He’s proven himself to be a man of conviction and character whose shown he’s not afraid to stand with and for his constituents.  Greg’s vision represents the future that Michigan needs to restore economic growth and prosperity.” said PETE HOEKSTRA.

“Serving in the legislature as a State Representative, I have never met a more fiscally responsible, conservative legislator.  His voting record demonstrates that he is for the people and not special interests.  He listens to his constituents and does what is right.” said DAVE AGEMA.

“This 37th Senate race,…it is just TOO important NOT to endorse Greg MacMaster as our next State Senator”, said Randy Bishop.   “After walking up on the other candidate for this seat conspiring with Dennis Lennox in the lower level of the Grand Hotel, (just outside of the men’s bathroom during this weekend’s Republican Leadership Conference) told me all that I needed to confirm what I already knew about that other candidate and realized right then we must fully support Greg MacMaster right NOW in order to counter the “dirty tactics”,…these two might use during this State Senate race.” Bishop added.

“I’m honored to receive such a broad spectrum of support from people that are pillars in the Michigan Republican Party, some of which have been involved in the party for a number of years,” said MacMaster. “It’s humbling that so many people have come out to support me this early in the campaign.”

I’m excited to include these party leaders and elected officials to the list as well:

Hank Fuhs, Secretary, Michigan Republican Party

Linda Lee Tarver, Ethnic Vice Chair, Michigan Republican Party

Blake Edmonds, Youth Vice Chair, Michigan Republican Party

Victor Diaz, Vice Chairman for Coalitions, Michigan Republican Party

Tony Stackpoole, Chairman, Chippewa County GOP

Randy Bishop, Chairman, Antrim County GOP and Former Candidate for the 37th Senate

Tom Stillings, Former 1st U.S. Congress Candidate and Fmr. 1st District Vice Chair

John Haggard, Former Chair Charlevoix GOP and GOP State Committeeman

Senator Pat Colbeck

State Representative Pat Sommerville

Fmr. Senator Phil Hoffman

Greg MacMaster is in the middle of his 2nd term as State Representative and ranks as one of the more conservative legislators in the House of Representatives. If you want to learn more about him, please visit his campaign’s website at:  www.gregmacmaster.com  

Attending the Right to Work discussion panel on Mackinaw Island at the Michigan Republican Leadership conference with Terry Bowman, Senator Patrick Colbeck, and State Representative – Mike Shirkey – State Rep 65th District and others. These three (3) men were big players on the Michigan Freedom to Work team,…God Bless You and Thank You!!!

http://miworkerfreedom.org/

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) will honor former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with this year’s Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center. The award will be presented to Clinton on September 10th, the eve of the first anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States mission in Benghazi that killed four Americans.

The Christian Science Monitor reports that Bush, a potential GOP contender in the 2016 presidential race, is chairman of the board of trustees of the National Constitution Center located in Philadelphia.

“Former Secretary Clinton has dedicated her life to serving and engaging people across the world in democracy,” Bush said in a statement. “These efforts as a citizen, an activist, and a leader have earned Secretary Clinton this year’s Liberty Medal.”

Bush’s decision to honor Clinton, who is considered by some to be a likely Democrat candidate for president in 2016, was condemned by the Independence Hall Tea Party Association of Philadelphia.

According to the Christian Science Monitor, the organization released its own statement Monday, referring to the event as “extremely distressing,” and offering, instead, an opportunity for another Liberty Medal recipient.

According to their statement:

As all of you undoubtedly know, much of the blame for the Obama Administration’s failure to contain the Benghazi attack and the scandalous handling of its aftermath, can be traced directly to Ms. Clinton.

Indeed, a Congressional investigation regarding Ms. Clinton’s role in the cover-up of the Administration’s failure is still ongoing.

A newly formed organization, the Independence Hall Foundation, will hold a“What Difference Does It Make” press conference on Independence Mall, September 10, 4 PM, to denounce the selection of Ms. Clinton as the 2013 Liberty Medal recipient and to offer an alternative award (details below).

During the conference, the Foundation will name its choice of recipient(s) for the 2013 Defender of Liberty Medal.

Dom Giordano will headline the presser and we certainly hope you will consider joining us.

A 5 PM Prayer Vigil for the victims of the Benghazi attack will immediately follow the press conference.

Back to The National Constitution Center’s announcement, dated June 27th, about the award of the Liberty Medal to Clinton, states:

As Secretary of State, Clinton advocated for “smart power” in foreign policy, elevating diplomacy and development and repositioning them for the 21st century – with new tools, technologies, and partners, including the private sector and civil society around the world.

National Constitution Center president and CEO Jeffrey Rosen said, “Hillary Clinton has devoted her life to expanding opportunities for ‘We the People’ not just in this country but around the globe.”

Upon the announcement of Clinton’s award in June, Gateway Pundit’s Jim Hoft wrote, “Really Jeb, no one else came to mind?”

By Jonathan Oosting | joosting@mlive.com 
Follow on Twitter
on August 31, 2013 at 8:00 AM, updated August 31, 2013 at 8:35 AM

LANSING, MI — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder wants to reform Medicaid and expand eligibility under the auspices of the Affordable Care Act, and a total of 36 Republicans in the House and Senate have now voted for the “Healthy Michigan” plan.

But they want you to know they still don’t like Obamacare. In fact, many of them really, really hate it. Consider the following comments from Sen. Howard Walker, R-Traverse City:

“The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is one of the worst pieces of legislation passed by our United States Congress in many years. It takes health care decisions away from our people; it penalizes those who choose not to purchase health care coverage; it places new mandates on small business owners; and it cuts funding to our local hospitals and health care providers, among other negative aspects.”

Walker delivered those remarks Tuesday night on the Senate floor. Then, he voted for House Bill 4714, which would allow the state to appropriate up to $1.7 billion in federal funding next year in order to expand Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act. If the House approves changes and Snyder signs the bill, the spending eventually will help cover an estimated 470,000 residents who might currently lack insurance.

Despite his opposition to the federal health care law, Walker explained that Medicaid reforms included in the legislation made expansion more palatable. Besides, he said, uninsured citizens are “essentially getting free health care” when they visit emergency rooms, and uncompensated care isn’t good business for hospitals.

“I am hopeful that a day comes where Obamacare is no longer the law of the land,” he said. “Until that time, I must ensure that we limit cost-shifting in our hospitals and that our hospitals’ doors remain open. I feel this legislation was the most viable way to do so.”

Throughout the legislative process, Snyder argued that Medicaid expansion made fiscal sense for Michigan. It will reduce uncompensated ER care, he said, lead to a healthier workforce and actually save Michigan millions in general fund spending in early years because some individuals currently covered by the state will be moved onto Medicaid.

But it wasn’t the state savings that won over reluctant Republicans, it was the business implications and reforms, including co-pays, income-based premiums and a 48-month cap on coverage for able-bodied adults, who could have the choice to stay on Medicaid and pay higher premiums or get private insurance through an upcoming exchange.

Michigan’s exchange will be run by the federal government because Republicans previously refused millions in funding to set up a state-run exchange or partner with Washington on the operation. Snyder supported state involvement as a form of “customer service.”

Medicaid expansion marks the first occasion that Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature has agreed to go along with a significant provision of the Affordable Care Act. And many members suggested they had to hold their noses while doing so.

“It takes healthcare decisions away from our people, it penalizes those who choose not to purchase healthcare coverage, and it places new mandates on small business,” Sen. Mike Kowall, R-White Lake, told his constituents a day after he voted for HB 4714.

“However, there was a United States Supreme Court decision finding that the law is constitutional. If Michigan did not form its own plan, the Affordable Care Act would harm our taxpayers and would result in employers leaving the state.”

Michigan Democrats widely supported the Medicaid expansion, and U.S. Rep. John Dingell of Dearborn, who helped author the Affordable Care Act, even visited the Legislature in July in hopes of pressuring the Senate to vote on the matter.

As Walker and Kowall suggested, Republican votes did not come easy, and even if the eight senators who said “yes” were motivated by pragmatism, there may be political consequences for some of those who supported the “Healthy Michigan” plan.

Tea party groups already have promised primary challenges against some House and Senate Republicans, they’ve urged conservatives to “sit out” a Snyder re-election campaign and are planning to oppose Lt. Gov. Brian Calley’s nomination at the GOP convention next year.

Calley, who has been under fire in recent weeks from Medicaid expansion opponents, couched his support for Medicaid expansion in conservative-friendly language when he joined the governor at a press conference after Tuesday night’s Senate vote.

“This is a victory for those who will gain coverage,” he said, “but this is also a victory for those who are lovers of liberty.”

Liberty, he explained, because people who choose to go on the state-administered Medicaid program would have otherwise been forced to purchase more expensive insurance on Michigan’s federally-run health exchange or face a tax penalty beginning next year when the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate kicks in.

“This is a big victory for people who are worried about the next generation and the overall cost they would be saddled with,” Calley continued, “because the Michigan Medicaid program is so much more efficient than the alternative.”

Wes Nakagiri, a tea party leader from Hartland who recently announced his plans to seek the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor next year, suggested Calley didn’t understand the definition of “liberty” and criticized the Medicaid vote.

“It is disappointing that the party of ‘smaller government’ voted to pile even more debt on the backs of future generations of Americans,” Nakagiri said.

Michigan Republicans clearly are divided on Medicaid expansion, and reasonable minds can disagree on whether it is a “civil war” or more of an “intense fellowship.” But they aren’t fighting over support for Obamacare — publicly, at least, they’re fighting over who hates it most.

Many states have chosen to take Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion expecting they can get out later if they wish. But that’s not the case.

Some states have said that if the federal government ever reneges on its promise of enhanced funding in the future, they’ll just withdraw from the expansion. But new legal analysis by the Buckeye Institute, an Ohio-based state think tank, shows there are both legal and political reasons why Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion is likely to be permanent.

While many states have already signed up for the expansion using this flawed backup plan, Ohio is still in a heated debate regarding expansion, and this idea is being used to garner support for it. For instance, one proposal would “create a ‘circuit breaker’ that would automatically roll back the expansion if the federal government didn’t stick to its end of the deal.”

Buckeye’s paper lays out the following reasons expansion is likely to be a permanent—once a state agrees to it, there might be no turning back.

Legal Barriers: When a state agrees to adopt Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion, it must amend its state plan, which is a contract between the federal government and each state governing the conditions of its Medicaid program. As the report explains, “Once the state plan has been amended to include the expansion, that agreement becomes part of the legally enforceable state plan contract. A state must be in compliance with its own state plan. The federal government enforces compliance by withholding federal funds. The mere threat of withholding federal dollars can generally ensure compliance.”

Political Barriers: Obamacare expands today’s Medicaid program into a new entitlement that is available to anyone who meets the income eligibility requirements. This will add millions of Americans to Medicaid. Whether or not the federal government follows through on its promises, it will be inherently difficult for any politician to end an existing entitlement program.

False hope for a waiver: Often, states use waivers to test different ideas and innovations within their Medicaid programs. Some states have asserted that they could exercise more state control and flexibility under an Obamacare expansion by getting a waiver for things such as limiting the duration of benefits, work requirements to receive benefits, participating in drug testing programs, or paying minimum co-payments. But again, this is highly unlikely to be the case. First, waivers require approval from the Administration and are temporary. Even states that have used a waiver to implement successful, cost-saving Medicaid reforms, like Rhode Island, might get their waiver renewals denied.

Secondly, waivers are simply a reprieve from the state’s legally binding Medicaid plan. As the authors put it, “Just as it would be imprudent for anyone to enter into a legally enforceable written contract with the expectation that he can later persuade the other party to waive parts of the contract that are no longer preferable, likewise agreeing to expand Medicaid through an amendment to the state plan contract based upon the hopes of procuring future waiver concessions is ill-advised.”

States like Ohio that are still undecided on Medicaid expansion should heed these warnings, as there might be no turning back once they accept Obamacare. The bottom line is that this is a highly uncertain environment, and states need to be very cautious before putting their taxpayers and other budget priorities at risk.