US Politics Thread |OT| THE DARKEST TIMELINE

[Oblivion]

 Does anyone know what happens to the money used for medicaid expansion if a red state refuses to accept it?

[brawndolicious]

So basically does the government just print less money? I don't know if you can tell but I've never taken any sort of accounting/economics class.

[Phoenix Dark]

Unused/rejected  Medicaid expansion money is reallocated to the federal exchanges, and it's also possible it can be reallocated to states that accepted the expansion. Which means states that reject it are truly cutting their nose to spite their face: not only are they still "paying" for it through taxes, they're paying for other people in other states to receive better care.

[Phoenix Dark]

http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/32/6/1030.abstract

Basically all state money is coming out of a big, federal allocation of Medicaid and insurance subsidy money. If a state refuses the Medicaid expansion, that money is still in the "pot" and can be used for subsidies in the federal exchange program, but apparently cannot be used to increase another state's Medicaid amount. Every state will comply with the subsidy/exchanges plan, whereas the SC ruled states can decide whether they want to participate in the Medicaid expansion.

In Michigan, our republican governor is still trying to get it passed but the GOP led state senate has adjourned for summer; they won't be back until October, meaning Michigan will not be getting any Medicaid money. Right now many within the MI health industry believe we'll accept the funds next year before the election. The dental office I work at has decided to maintain our longstanding policy of not accepting Medicaid, so regardless of what happens we won't be seeing those patients. I lobbied for us to at least see children on Medicaid plans but it's a no go.

[Phoenix Dark]

Yes, for medical care
http://ccf.georgetown.edu/all/kaiser-releases-two-reports-on-medicaid-reimbursement-rate-increases/
http://ccf.georgetown.edu/all/final-rule-approves-pay-raise-for-medicaid-primary-care-services/

Sadly this doesn't really apply to dental care, where reimbursement rates will largely remain a state issue. That's the main reason a lot of dental offices don't accept Medicaid, at least in Michigan. For instance here in Michigan, the smallest/simplest filing for a cavity costs around $150. Medicaid will pay $16 of that. So you're losing money by giving chair time to someone with Medicaid over a private insurance plan where a far larger portion of that $150 is paid.

Or you can do what many Medicaid accepting places do: set up 10 minute appointments and see hundreds of patients a day, collecting your fed money while giving rushed & shitty care. So while I'm glad Medicaid has been expanded and virtually every kid in America will have access to dental care, many providers will still treat them poorly.

[Madrun Badrun]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23042005

Is this the war you guys ended or is that the other one?

[Great Rumbler]

"I think that, first of all, the legislation concerning beefed up border security removes any validity to the argument that border security is not sufficient," McCain said during an appearance on CNN. "I mean, this is not only sufficient, it is well over sufficient. We'll be the most militarized border since the fall of the Berlin Wall so that's why I think this amendment was very important."

[AdmiralViscen]

States rights win again today

[TakingBackSunday]

not really as offended by this as I feel I should be...the legality and argument against it in terms of pure judicial practices seems sound unfortunately

but fuck scalia of course

[AdmiralViscen]

I don't like the idea of SCOTUS sniping individual lines of legislation and telling Congress to redo it. What if the next set of criteria for voting oversight is also not happy to SCOTUS? The bill passed overwhelmingly with that provision and I don't see why these 5 people would have done more research on it than the 330 who voted on it just a few years ago.

Basically, either strike down the concept of federal oversight of the process or leave the whole thing alone.

[Phoenix Dark]

It's worth noting Section 2 of the VRA covers much of the same ground. And most of the voter ID laws that were struck down last year had nothing to do with Section 5, they were in violation of state laws.

I'm far more concerned about voting hours (and early voting hours/days) being restricted as well as Sec of State offices being moved out of cities, both of which don't apply to Section 5 iirc.

Personally I have no problem with voter ID laws if IDs are readily available to anyone who wants one. Alas a certain party wants to make the process as annoying as possible.

[Great Rumbler]

Vote protection? lol nope!
Consumer protection? lol nope!

Worst SCOTUS ever.

[Phoenix Dark]

on the plus side, gay marriage tomorrow!

[Joe Molotov]

on the plus side, gay marriage tomorrow!

gay marriage? lol nope!

[Mupepe]

supreme court is on a fucking roll.  Can't wait to see them hold back federal recognition of gay marriage.  Fucking fruitcakes.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

New emote plz

[Phoenix Dark]

 
ATTN JayDubya
https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/349596587720318977

[Brehvolution]

SCOTUS is just hurrying through the conservative laundry list before Obama/Clinton can appoint someone that upsets the conservative majority on the bench.

[Brehvolution]

It takes a TRUE PATRIOT™ to shit on half his countrymen. 

[Phoenix Dark]

Is this relative in possession of a Medicare electric wheelchair, and does his shirt constantly sport mayonnaise stains?

[Great Rumbler]

Guys, it's been 50 years since the VRA went into effect. Times have changed, we're not the country we were 50 years ago! We-

“With today’s decision, the State’s voter ID law will take effect immediately,” [Texas Attorney General] Abbott said, according to the Dallas Morning News. “Redistricting maps passed by the Legislature may also take effect without approval from the federal government.”

Oh.

[Joe Molotov]

It takes a TRUE PATRIOT™ to shit on half his countrymen. 

Rich people are mad that they paid for Obama, while us poor people got him for free.

[Dickie Dee]

Is this relative in possession of a Medicare electric wheelchair, and does his shirt constantly sport mayonnaise Freedom Gunk stains?

[Phoenix Dark]

Is this relative in possession of a Medicare electric wheelchair, and does his shirt constantly sport mayonnaise stains?

He's a retired physician, actually, which makes it weird. I could send him the study on how drug testing for welfare benefits actually costs more than the savings it generates, but studies have no effect. He's not really interested in adjusting his viewpoints in the face of actual data.

Yup. His response would be "I expect spin from the mainstream media, not from you..."

[Human Snorenado]

[TakingBackSunday]

that can't be a real fucking quote

[Steve Contra]

(Image removed from quote.)

That's a total lie.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Some Southern people aren't racist

[close]

[Phoenix Dark]

When I went to Alabama to visit my southern farmer family members I noticed that their neighborhood was half white and black. They all hung out together, all helped on each others farms at times, ate the exact same food, talked the exact same, etc. We can all get along.  :'(

brb sending this anecdote to David Brooks.

[Great Rumbler]

Live filibuster in-progress in Texas:

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/texas-senator-begins-planned-13-hour-filibuster-to-kill-anti-abortion-bill.php

[Joe Molotov]

that can't be a real fucking quote

The sentiment is real.

[Steve Contra]

When I went to Alabama to visit my southern farmer family members I noticed that their neighborhood was half white and black. They all hung out together, all helped on each others farms at times, ate the exact same food, talked the exact same, etc. We can all get along.  :'(

brb sending this anecdote to David Brooks.

And then make the location more exotic and send it to Thomas Friedman

[Phoenix Dark]

When I went to Alabama to visit my southern farmer family members I noticed that their neighborhood was half white and black. They all hung out together, all helped on each others farms at times, ate the exact same food, talked the exact same, etc. We can all get along.  :'(

brb sending this anecdote to David Brooks.

And then make the location more exotic and send it to Thomas Friedman

And then send it to Gary Whitta for a major motion picture adaption.

[Joe Molotov]

Live filibuster in-progress in Texas:

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/texas-senator-begins-planned-13-hour-filibuster-to-kill-anti-abortion-bill.php

This is like a C-SPAN battle royale, falls count anywhere.  Senators are passive-agressiving the hell out of each other.

[Phoenix Dark]

5 hours to go.

[Joe Molotov]

6 hours, she's gotta go till midnight and it's only 6pm here.

[Dickie Dee]

this lady

[Great Rumbler]

And this is a REAL filibuster:

-Speak from 11am to 12am
-No breaks for any reason
-No CHAIR
-No leaning on the desk

This is the C-SPAN version of Hell in a Cell.

[Phoenix Dark]

If someone were to push her and she fell, would that end the filibuster?
 

[Great Rumbler]

If someone were to push her and she fell, would that end the filibuster?
 

Only if she couldn't get back on her feet before the 3-count.

[Phoenix Dark]

What if, with 1 minute to go, she takes off her jacket to reveal a shirt with an elephant on it. Then she sits down, completing the heel turn.

Then Rick Perry walks down the senate hall and gives her a high five.

[Joe Molotov]

Republicans are trying to end the match early with a disqualification, but some old guy jumped into the ring with a chair (metaphorically) for an assist.

Old lady, just bitchslapped male privilege by pointing out that the rule that said you couldn't sit only used a male pronoun.

[Great Rumbler]

Old lady, just bitchslapped male privilege by pointing out that the rule that said you couldn't sit only used a male pronoun.

[Human Snorenado]

Markey wins Kerry's seat.

[Phoenix Dark]

Markey wins Kerry's seat.

so you mean the polls were not skewed?!

[Great Rumbler]

10% margin of victory.

[TakingBackSunday]

watching this fillibuster

the fuck are these assholes arguing against 

Goddamit I hate consitutional stringents.  Fuck off with trying to ignore years and years of precedent and popular opinion and trying to hang the balance on a motherfucking important topic on the meaning of one fucking word

[Joe Molotov]

watching this fillibuster

the fuck are these assholes arguing against 

Goddamit I hate consitutional stringents.  Fuck off with trying to ignore years and years of precedent and popular opinion and trying to hang the balance on a motherfucking important topic on the meaning of one fucking word

They've been trying to get her filibuster ended on a technicality all night. She's received two warnings so far (once for going off-topic, another for a senator helping her put on a back brace), if she gets one more warning they'll end the filibuster and force a vote.

[TakingBackSunday]

hope she can keep going strong for three more hours

is she allowed a glass of water at least?

[Phoenix Dark]

Also democrats are asking points of order to give her time to rest her voice.

I hope Microsoft is watching. This could make for an interesting Kinect game.

[Joe Molotov]

is she allowed a glass of water at least?

No. She can't even lean on her desk.

[Brehvolution]

I hope it works out. I would love to see some Texan Rs feel dat filibuster.

[TakingBackSunday]

damn 

mad props to her.  Wish this fucking shit was in the US congress.  christ almighty, I want to see Mitch Turtle McFuckface talk for 13 hours

lets see if he can do so without retracting his head for a lil snooze within his ass

[Phoenix Dark]

This is how a filibuster should work. It shouldn't be a casually used tool of pure obstruction (like the US senate...). If you want to filibuster you should have to hold the floor. And whether its done in support of something I favor (like this) or something I don't (the anti-Civil Rights Act filibusters of the 60s), the option should be taken seriously, not as a quick gimmick to stall any and everything.

It's worth noting that Davis was working near full time at the age of 14 to help her single mother; she then became a single mother at 19. Got herself through community college, undergrad (top of class), and Harvard Law. She'd probably be a United States senator in nearly any other state.

[TakingBackSunday]

damn

get this gal into federal politics

[TakingBackSunday]

.

[Joe Molotov]

Other Democrats have been trying to ask questions to give her a break for about the past hour or so, and but she's in such a flow, she won't even take their questions.

[TakingBackSunday]

what a BAMF

[TakingBackSunday]

what absolute fucking horeshit

fuck texas

[Phoenix Dark]

wow 

[Positive Touch]

WHAT JUST HAPPENED I WAS PLAYING WITH CATS AND MISSED IT