Bobby Jindal, who was blasted last month by his own Public Service Commissioner for "hypocrisy" and "meanness" in refusing to accept expanded Medicaid funding as part of the President's health care plan, is not happy that the immediate acceptance of his request for federal assistance (and the President's immediate release of emergency funding for Louisiana) does not include "reimbursement for all emergency protective measures," but only for "direct federal assistance."
This world-class hypocrite--who refused Medicaid money on the grounds that "Federal money isn't free, it's taking money away from our children and grandchildren", thereby denying Federal aid to one of the poorest populations in the United States--has now petulantly demanded, in print and on TV, that the administration "provide for reimbursement of expenses that the state is taking to prepare for the storm."
This "small government" self-righteous S.O.B. even lectures the President in his letter: "When threatened with exraordinary disasters, states depend upon the availability of the full spectrum of assistance available under the Stafford Act. Finally, a core responsibility of the federal government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens when threatened." (Right--but not when threatened with poverty and disease.)
Where are your principles now, weasel? And you know what? I want to see your long-form birth certificate, too.
Copies of source documents below the orange storm cloud.
Gov. Bobby Jindal blasted for refusing federal Medicaid money
Saturday, July 07, 2012
Times-Picayune
Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell has called out Gov. Bobby Jindal for "hypocrisy" and "meanness" in his refusal to accept expanded Medicaid funding as part of President Barack Obama's health care plan. Campbell, who ran unsuccessfully against Jindal in the 2007 gubernatorial election, took aim at the governor for saying recently that he would turn down federal funding that would allow those living at up to 133 percent of the poverty level to qualify for Medicaid. For a family of four, that means a household income of about $30,650 a year.
The federal government will pay the full cost of the Medicaid expansion in the early years of the program and pick up 90 percent of the costs after that.
The governor's refusal to participate in the program is hypocritical for someone who lives on the state's dime, Campbell said. "Bobby Jindal and his family live in a three-story mansion paid for by the state. "He eats free, his laundry is free he has servants and bodyguards and chauffeurs and free travel. He and his family have access to state-subsidized health care--and yet he denies health care for hundreds of thousands of Louisiana residents who cannot afford it. It's the worst form of hypocrisy."
The Public Service Commission regulates utilities and while many of its alumni have gone on to the governor's mansion, it's unusual for a commissioner to wade into an issue such as health care. But Campbell said he felt he had to speak out because Jindal had cowed other elected officials, including members of the Legislature, by methods that include stripping them of leadership positions if they opposed his agenda.
The administration countered that the money for the program would still come from the taxpayers. "Federal money isn't free, it's taking money away from our children and grandchildren," Jindal spokesman Kyle Plotkin said. "Foster Campbell wants to go the way of President Obama with more spending, higher taxes and a European-style approach. We're going to continue to stand up for Louisiana."
Campbell noted that a large portion of the state budget already comes from federal money and argued that turning down Medicaid funding for those who need it most was "mean." "We have the poorest population in the United States of America; how can anybody turn their back on them?" he asked.
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August 27, 2012
Dear Mr. President:
I have received your approval of a limited federal declaration of emergency for Tropical Storm Isaac for the State of Louisiana. We appreciate your response to our request and your approval. However, the State's original request for federal assistance dated August 26, 2012 included a request for reimbursement for all emergency protective measures. The federal declaration of emergency only provides for direct federal assistance.
In a release issued by the White House today, it said "the declaration builds on resources already deployed by FEMA and makes Federal funding available for certain emergency activities undertaken by the state to prepare for and respond to the storm." Unfortunately, your limited declaration does not provide for reimbursement of expenses that the state is taking to prepare for the storm.
As of 5 p.m. Central time today, the National Weather Service forecasts this storm to strengthen to a Category 2 hurricane and squarely impact the State of Louisiana. The increased urgency of the situation necessitates that we re-emphasize the request for full federal assistance for the State. . . .
. . . The speed with which this threat developed has necessitated extraordinary emergency protective measures at the State and local government level.
. . . All of these actions are appropriate and necessary responses to the threat of this storm. While Tropical Storm Isaac has yet to strike the state, it has necessitated significant amounts of State and local government expenditures. The State's expenditures for emergency protective measures are already approximately $8,000,000 and exceed the State of Louisiana's threshold when making a request for a major disaster declaration.
Given the extraordinary developments of this storm and its approaching impact on the State of Louisiana, I ask that you exercise your discretion to approve the State's pending request for all emergency protective measures. Further, I ask that you consider a cost-share adjustment to eliminate the State's non-federal share of the costs for this event. When threatened with extraordinary disasters, states depend upon the availability of the full spectrum of assistance available under the Stafford Act.
Finally, a core responsibility of the federal government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens when threatened. This disaster declaration will help ensure that we best protect life and property in our state.
Sincerely,
Bobby Jindal
Governor