Adding to the rolling disaster that is Kansas, Gov. Brownback somehow decided that raising taxes on HMOs would be just the thing to close the state’s budget gap. This is not going well.
According to The Wichita Eagle, leaders at Aetna are warning lawmakers that if Brownback’s proposal goes into effect the healthcare company would be hit with $12 million in additional taxes and add $206 to an average HMO insurance policy holder’s bill. Brownback’s proposal is currently awaiting approval in a House-Senate conference committee.
Seriously, what was he thinking?
Specifically, Brownback is looking to raise a “privilege fee” on annual HMO premiums which is currently at 1 percent. Brownback wants to raise it to 5.5 percent in order to bring in $136 million in new revenues. The $136 million would then be used to replace $80 million in state funds currently going to Medicaid, according to the Eagle. Kansas officials argue that the tax has to go to all HMO companies that offer Medicaid through Kansas’s KanCare program.
And yes, of course Brownback refused to expand Medicaid through the ACA, which would have taken care of the Medicaid problem without Kansas citizens haven’t to suffer for it. Why would we expect anything else?
On Monday, new Kansas revenue estimates projected a $400 million deficit for the 2016 fiscal year. That deficit is projected to grow to near $500 million if lawmakers don’t pass new insurance taxes.
“Conservatives” seem to think that if they can find some magic formula regarding taxes and budgets that costs will just go away. But some costs don’t go away. You can manage them stupidly or smartly, but they aren’t going away, and shifting who has to pay for stuff is not making the cost go away.
Elsewhere: Be sure to read “I am a cook in the US Senate but I still need food stamps to feed my children” and “Conservative Republicans Alone on Global Warming’s Timing.”
Sam is a “voodoo (economics) child” without no “mojo”.
Going off-topic, though I will comment on the post later, I have a GoFundMe up. A number of you have offered to help, but the best thing is to get the word out. A bunch of small donations is better than a few large ones and the Maha gang tends to be … not affluent. Search ‘Doug Hughes Freedom Flight’ on GoFundMe or just use the link – http://www.gofundme.com/sn8gc2s.
I was on Democracy Now this morning – link here. http://www.democracynow.org/2015/4/22/it_was_worth_risking_my_life They were wonderful hosts – good questions on topic and a hilarious finish.
Doug — I’ve spread the link around on Facebook and will do some more tomorrow. You are right that we are not an affluent crew, though. 🙁
affluent?…..En mi pobresa esta mi riquesa
Thanks Maha – I’m not putting the arm on anyone, especially my friends here. I have needs, as we all do, but I’m stuck at home now, and I want my family covered, financially, if I have to do time. There’s no inside information on that, but this nut is trying to bury a few squirrels.. no that’s not what I was trying to say..
But some costs don’t go away. You can manage them stupidly or smartly, but they aren’t going away, and shifting who has to pay for stuff is not making the cost go away.
Yeah, but the Repugs aren’t interested in making the costs go away. They want to shift the blame for those costs..It stands to reason that if your medical insurance premium gets jacked up, it has to be —in the eyes of the unenlightened — the result of Obamacare. I’m sure that’s how the Repug’s spin doctors will play it.
Donated to Doug. I didn’t realize that the wonderful gyrocopter pilot was “our” Doug.
Doug,
I’ll be sending some later today.
It’s close to the end of the month so I can spare some bucks, now that I have SS Disability.
“Seriously, what was he thinking?”
Look, Brownback is a typical conservative.
He’s got his, so f*ck everyone else – especially those below him.
He’s desperate to prove that his brand of conservatism works.
And he’ll borrow from Peter, to pay Paul.
And John.
And Ringo.
He’s ruining his state.
But, there’ll be a Democrat eventually who’ll have to fix Kansas.
And then, conservatives will cry, wail, shriek, moan, gnash their teeth, and tear at their hair and garments, screaming against some new taxes.
And, that Democratic Governor will lose and election – because he raised taxes to save his/her state.
It’s how conservatives roll…
Doug,
Several of us here at the Mahablog have donated through your democracyclub.org tin cup link so you should have some shekels in there! Also I’ve spread that location around at other subversive lefty sites so check that out! I enjoyed the democracy now interview though I would have expected better questions from that crew, you got your point across well in spite of the questioning!
I am so proud of Doug!! I also made a small donation and if I get my house sold soon ( I have a good offer) I will be able to contribute some more. This group may not be affluent in $$$$$$ but it certainly has beaucoup assets that are more important. That being intelligence, passion, compassion and love. I’m talking about the love that comes from the creative forces that is the only love that counts. And that comes through very clearly listening to Doug speak. He is sincere, unpretentious and my kind of man and hero. We (this group) may not be able to contribute a lot of money but we can all use our higher powers to help by meditation, prayer, positive thinking, etc.
Doug: I love that piano. I wanted to jump in the scene and start playing. Do you play?
I put some money in the Democracy Club tin cup last week. Check under the cushions, Doug! 🙂
Forgot to include a quote by Margaret Mead:
Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
epic twit, BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBY J., is!
Hey DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOFUS,
Ok, we appreciate that – probably for your political career – you “found” Christ.
But you need to know that our ‘freedom of religion,’ also means the ‘freedom FROM religion!”
Now, ponder on that one, BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBY J.!
Oy!
Right comment, wrong site.
Sorry, folks.
gulag — you can repeat the Booby comment on my new post. 🙂
OT, it seems our Doug had some heavy artillery pointed at him as he neared the capitol. Poor congress critters why they could have been inconvenienced by this act of civil disobedience, what a bunch of fucking pussies!
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gyrocopter-pilot-doug-hughes-monitored-into-capitol-washington/
Doug is on Hardball tonight!
Thanks Maha. Gang, I thought I made it clear – I’m not interested in donations from those living on the edge. There are people with means who will help me if they know how. For those of you who have helped, THANK YOU! I have been hanging out with many of you for years – you can critique my attempts and kick me in the butt when it’s appropriate. I need my friends to keep me on track.
Brownbeck is out of his depth. He’s convinced that the bag of sound bites that he got elected with actually contains answers to real problems. When reality hits, he’s befuddled. I don’t think he ‘gets’ that tax cuts result in budget shortfalls unless there are matching cuts in spending. And cuts in spending mean cuts in services, oftentimes cuts in services that people expect.
I will be delighted and surprised when republican governors actually come up with solutions that do more (in terms of services) for less money. The idea that cutting taxes will stimulate the economy and create jobs is fantasy. Cutting off benefits for the needy with the expectation they will get jobs that don’t exist because cutting taxes didn’t attract or create new business is a human tragedy. Real people suffer in a failed experiment where the only real beneficiaries are those who got their taxes cut.
Doug: Do you ever read Balloon Juice? In several comment threads various readers have mentioned creating a fund for you, and I think someone mentioned the GoFundMe site you now have. Anyway, I just thought I’d let you know that readers at Balloon Juice were concerned about you.