Rick Perry: Health Reform A “State Issue”

Yes, he’s at it again. Not that he means it. But, you gotta give him credit, the man never passes up a chance to posture. Here’s the full quote from yesterday’s Star-Telegram story by Dave Montgomery:

“It really is a state issue, and if there was ever an argument for the 10th Amendment and for letting the states find a solution to their problems, this may be at the top of the class,” Perry said. “A government-run healthcare system is financially unstable. It’s not the solution.”

 So, Governor, let’s see how that would work. Texas, for example, has the highest percentage of uninsured among all 50 states. While other states in the face of the recession have expanded coverage for poor children, Texas hasn’t, and the Governor wouldn’t:

Even if it had passed, Gov. Rick Perry had indicated he would veto the measure, though federal matching funds would have provided roughly two-thirds of the cost of the additional coverage. “No, I would probably not be in favor of that expansion even if it came to my desk,” the governor told reporters. “That is not what I consider to be a piece of legislation that has the vast support of the people and state of Texas.” [italics mine]

So if states like Texas were left to “find a solution to their problems,” the Governor’s solution would then be to deny there are any problems. Simple!