Governor Beshear's Op-ed on the Affordable Healthcare Act

Op-Ed Contributor

My State Needs Obamacare. Now.

By STEVE BESHEAR

Published: September 26, 2013 64 Comments

FRANKFORT, Ky. — SUNDAY morning news programs identify Kentucky as the red state with two high-profile Republican senators who claim their rhetoric represents an electorate that gave President Obama only about a third of its presidential vote in 2012.

Is Obamacare Working?

The law is starting to take effect. Were the dire predictions correct, or is it lowering costs and expanding access?

So why then is Kentucky — more quickly than almost any other state — moving to implement the Affordable Care Act?

Because there’s a huge disconnect between the rank partisanship of national politics and the outlook of governors whose job it is to help beleaguered families, strengthen work forces, attract companies and create a balanced budget.

It’s no coincidence that numerous governors — not just Democrats like me but also Republicans like Jan Brewer of Arizona, John Kasich of Ohio and Rick Snyder of Michigan — see the Affordable Care Act not as a referendum on President Obama but as a tool for historic change.

That is especially true in Kentucky, a state where residents’ collective health has long been horrendous. The state ranks among the worst, if not the worst, in almost every major health category, including smoking, cancer deaths, preventable hospitalizations, premature death, heart disease and diabetes.

We’re making progress, but incremental improvements are not enough. We need big solutions with the potential for transformational change.

The Affordable Care Act is one of those solutions.

For the first time, we will make affordable health insurance available to every single citizen in the state. Right now, 640,000 people in Kentucky are uninsured. That’s almost one in six Kentuckians.

Lack of health coverage puts their health and financial security at risk.

They roll the dice and pray they don’t get sick. They choose between food and medicine. They ignore checkups that would catch serious conditions early. They put off doctor’s appointments, hoping a condition turns out to be nothing. And they live knowing that bankruptcy is just one bad diagnosis away.

Furthermore, their children go long periods without checkups that focus on immunizations, preventive care and vision and hearing tests. If they have diabetes, asthma or infected gums, their conditions remain untreated and unchecked.

For Kentucky as a whole, the negative impact is similar but larger — jacked-up costs, decreased worker productivity, lower quality of life, depressed school attendance and a poor image.

The Affordable Care Act will address these weaknesses.

Some 308,000 of Kentucky’s uninsured — mostly the working poor — will be covered when we increase Medicaid eligibility guidelines to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.

PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Urban Studies Institute at the University of Louisville concluded that expanding Medicaid would inject $15.6 billion into Kentucky’s economy over the next eight years, create almost 17,000 new jobs, have an $802.4 million positive budget impact (by transferring certain expenditures from the state to the federal government, among other things), protect hospitals from cuts in indigent care funding and shield businesses from up to $48 million in annual penalties.

In short, we couldn't afford not to do it.

The other 332,000 uninsured Kentuckians will be able to access affordable coverage — most with a discount — through the Health Benefit Exchange, the online insurance marketplace we named Kynect: Kentucky’s Healthcare Connection.

Kentucky is the only Southern state both expanding Medicaid and operating a state-based exchange, and we remain on target to meet the Oct. 1 deadline to open Kynect with the support of a call center that is providing some 100 jobs. Having been the first state-based exchange to complete the readiness review with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, we hope to become the first one to be certified.

Frankly, we can’t implement the Affordable Care Act fast enough.

As for naysayers, I’m offended by their partisan gamesmanship, as they continue to pour time, money and energy into overturning or defunding the Affordable Care Act. It’s shameful that these critics haven’t invested that same level of energy into trying to improve the health of our citizens.

They insist that the Affordable Care Act will never work — when in fact a similar approach put into effect in Massachusetts by Mitt Romney, then the governor, is working.

So, to those more worried about political power than Kentucky’s families, I say, “Get over it.”

The Affordable Care Act was approved by Congress and sanctioned by the Supreme Court. It is the law of the land.

Get over it ... and get out of the way so I can help my people. Here in Kentucky, we cannot afford to waste another day or another life.

Steve Beshear, a Democrat, is the governor of Kentucky. 

Media Release

MEDIA RELEASE 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
October 7, 2012 

For more information, contact
Kenton County Democratic Party Chairman, Col Owens 513-300-3042 Campbell County Democratic Party Chairman, Paul Whalen 859-466-3450 
Boone County Democratic Party Chairman, Mike Howard 859-380-6119 ________________________________________________________________

Northern Kentucky Democratic Parties Statement on NKY Chamber of Commerce Display of Partisanship                              Chamber Invites Congressional Candidate Tom Massie to Speak, 

Shuns Bill Adkins 

Campbell County, KY— In an unprecedented display of partisanship, The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce has invited 4th District Congressional Candidate Republican Tom Massie to speak at the October 26th Government Forum but did not invite Democratic Candidate Bill Adkins. The Chamber of Commerce earlier invited both candidates to appear at a Chamber-sponsored debate at Northern Kentucky University; Bill Adkins promptly accepted the invitation and Tom Massie declined. Chamber staff member Blair Schroeder communicated at the time that the debate would be cancelled. Thus the Chamber declined to give Mr. Adkins a forum where he could present his views in an unchallenged manner. 

The Chamber is currently promoting its monthly government forum program that includes their invited speaker, Tom Massie on October 26th. Click here to view the online registration form for the event. In the past, the Chamber has sponsored numerous bi-partisan candidate forums that have included opportunities for opposing candidates. The Chamber did so this time as well, extending invitations to both candidates to debate. Mr. Massie refused. And now the Chamber has taken the unprecedented step of inviting the candidate who refused to debate to speak at a forum without challenge. 

Chairmen representing the three Northern Kentucky Democratic Parties, Paul Whalen-Campbell County, Col Owens-Kenton County and Mike Howard-Boone County have issued the following statement: 

"By inviting only one Congressional candidate to speak to its membership, after that candidate refused to debate his opponent in a Chamber-sponsored debate, the Chamber has shown a disappointing willingness to abandon its long tradition of non-partisanship in elections. Such abandonment does not serve the community well. If the Chamber is becoming a one-party organization, its reputation and image as an objective voice for Northern Kentucky to the public will be undercut. Members may want to reconsider their participation.” 

“The NKY Chamber membership includes many governmental entities including school districts, counties, cities and special governmental districts such as water districts. All of these governmental bodies are led by officials for which many are elected in non-partisan elections. Taxpayer funds support many of these Chamber memberships. And many local government officials participate in Chamber activities. To properly serve these members as well as the community at large, the Chamber should continue its tradition of fairness and non-partisanship in elections.” 

“We call on the Chamber to re-consider its ill-conceived decision to give a platform to one candidate in this open Congressional seat. Mr. Adkins and Mr. Massie should appear together or neither should appear. The Chamber’s reputation for fairness and objectivity is more important to the community than any advantage it might wish to give to one candidate in this election.”

Rand Paul’s do-over in Senate

Lawrence O'Donnell once again addresses the flip-flops of Rand Paul:



(Here are links to O'Donnell's first and second reports on this topic.)

Kentucky's newspapers on Williams' gambling

Kentucky's two most-read newspapers have been weighing in on the recent news of David Williams' gambling losses. From the Courier-Journal:

According to documents filed in his divorce case in 2003, Sen. Williams, R-Burkesville, reported gambling losses of $36,147 in a four-year period of 1999 to 2002. On a yearly basis, the losses ranged from $3,445 in 2000 to $17,889 in 1999.

...the disclosures raise concerns that Sen. Williams should address. He implied in interviews that he “must have had winnings more than (his declared losses).” Not necessarily. A taxpayer can claim and deduct gambling losses up to the amount of betting income that is reported, but losses could have totaled more — even much more. Given that Sen. Williams has tended to visit out-of-state casinos, it is highly unlikely he came out ahead in any of the four years, let alone all of them. The odds are set to favor the house in casino wagering, and it's a rare player indeed who beats the house over time.

...It is important that Sen. Williams, a candidate for governor, make appropriate information public. For starters, he should release his tax returns — which, among other disclosures, will include his gambling winnings, reveal whether they were entirely offset by losses and shed light on whether his claim that he has stopped patronizing casinos is truthful. He should also answer questions about his gambling, including the sums that he has won and lost.

The Herald-Leader added:

He should answer questions and release his income tax returns going back into the 1990s. At the very least he should release the portions of his tax returns that deal with gambling. He also should release the documentation of his losses, which would include information about where and when he was gambling.

And he should disclose whether he has received preferential treatment from casinos, including lodging, meals or other perks.

These are legitimate questions that will dog Williams should he win the Republican nomination. The sooner he gets them out of the way, the better.

Rand says put tolls on the Brent Spence Bridge

The Enquirer has the story:

"When I was up in Washington, D.C. several weeks ago, Sen. Rand Paul mentioned selling the bridge, privatizing the bridge," said Boone Judge-executive Gary Moore. "Then I heard when the Northern Kentucky Chamber visited a couple weeks after me, that he told them the same thing."

...When Kenton County Judge-executive Steve Arlinghaus spoke with Paul, "He did suggest the possibility of privatization as one possible answer, which I found an interesting concept, but you know if you privatize you'll be paying tolls forever," Arlinghaus said. "If you give complete ownership of the bridge to somebody, there's going to be tolls for a lifetime, and I don't know if that's in the best interest of the general public."

Paul's office did not return a call seeking comment Monday.

The Lavish Gambling Lifestyle of David Williams

Today the KDP issued this press release:

After a weekend that saw Kentucky news outlets reveal Republican Senate President David Williams’ excessive gambling habits and high-roller lifestyle, Kentuckians now have a better understanding of how David Williams views the value of a dollar. Williams dismissed losing tens of thousands of dollars and admitted he thought little of gambling thousands of dollars in a single day.

$36,147 gambling losses over four years? Doesn’t make me a big gambler! The Herald Leader reported that Williams’ reported gambling losses of $36,147 in the four-year period from 1999 to 2002, according to a document filed in his divorce case in 2003. Williams’ response? “I don’t think that makes me a big gambler,” he said.

$17,999 gambling losses in one year? Not a big number! The Herald Leader reported that documents filed in Williams’ divorce showed a gambling loss of $17,899 in 1999. Williams’ response? “That $17,889 figure sounds like a big number, Williams said, but noted it could have involved several trips to gambling venues.”

Betting thousands at each racetrack visit? Couple hundred dollars on each race! The Courier Journal reported that Williams said “he goes to race tracks ‘maybe five times a year…Let’s say if I take a couple of thousand dollars, bet a couple of hundred dollars a race,” he said. “… Or you bet $50 a race, $20 across the board, cumulatively you keep those (losing) tickets in case you do hit a race.”

Williams’ cavalier handling of money stands in stark contrast to how many Kentuckians must closely watch every dollar during the global economic recession, and raises questions about David Williams’ understanding and sensitivity to their struggles.

“While blowing a couple grand at the track, David Williams doesn’t seem to share the sense of frugality with which most Kentucky families manage their household finances,” said Dan Logsdon, Chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party. “Most folks don’t walk around with thousands of dollars in their pocket ready to put it on the line at a casino or a racetrack. Kentucky families are too busy paying the bills, raising their families and working to stretch their hard earned dollars to live David Williams’ opulent lifestyle.”

While Williams attempted to downplay his $36,147 in gambling loses as nothing out of the ordinary, Kentucky families would have a hard time agreeing with him. Here’s what $36,147 would mean to the average Kentucky family.

• $34,400 could put two children through four years of college at the University of Kentucky (University of Kentucky)
• $26,750 could pay for premium private health insurance for over 2 years for a family of four (Kaiser Family Foundation)
• $33,840 would cover the average American family’s housing costs for one year (US Dept. of Labor)
• $30,952 covers 4 years of ownership and operating costs for the average American family car (American Automotive Association)

Chairman Logsdon also compared Williams’ casual attitude about his own money to the way he inappropriately spends taxpayers’ dollars. “Now we know why David Williams thinks it is no big deal to spend $17,000 of taxpayer dollars on a plasma television for himself, $52,800 of taxpayer dollars for fancy wood paneling, or $63,000 of taxpayer dollars every day on a special session where he isn’t doing any work,” Logsdon said. “How can Kentucky families trust David Williams with their hard earned tax dollars when he clearly doesn’t understand the meaning of financial restraint? That’s something Kentucky can’t take a gamble on.”

Did Rand Paul mislead public on Libya vote?

Lawrence O'Donnell follows up on the lies coming from Rand Paul's office:



Click here for O'Donnell's earlier story on Rand Paul.

Editorial comic roundup

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President Obama's weekly address

Speaking from a UPS customer center as part of the new public-private Green Fleet Partnership, the President discusses his Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future to help free us from oil and boost the American economy.

Governor Beshear's weekly address