Iowa Senate Democrats Drive Toward Bankruptcy with Medicaid Expansion Vote

Radio Iowa reports that Iowa Senate Democrats voted last night to accept federal money in order to expand Medicaid.

The 26 Democrats in the Iowa Senate voted tonight to accept federal tax dollars to cover more low-income Iowans who’re uninsured — another chapter in a long-running dispute with Iowa’s Republican governor. Democrats like Senate President Pam Jochum of Dubuque argued the state should extend government-paid Medicaid coverage to as many of 150,000 more Iowans.

“I have no doubt in my mind or in my heart that the Medicaid expansion is not only financially smart, it is morally the right thing to do,” Jochum said.

Well I’m so glad that State Senator Jochum has “no doubt.”  I do.  It is not financially smart – we can’t afford this as a nation and we can’t afford this as a state.  I also didn’t realize it is “morally right” to fleece taxpayers when states and the Federal government go bankrupt as a result?  Contrary to what most Iowa Senate Democrats likely believe, Federal money is not free.  It didn’t grow on trees, they don’t just print more when they need it (uh… er… never mind), it comes from taxpayers.  Besides, have Senate Democrats thought through a plan when the Federal money runs out as I have no doubt it eventually will?

I have no doubt in my mind or in my heart that they haven’t.

Photo Credit: Images of Money via Flickr (CC-By-2.0)