The Scientific Activist

Just When I Thought Texas Politics Couldn’t Get Any Dumber

Posted by Nick Anthis on March 23, 2009
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What can I even say about this? From the Austin American-Statesman:

At a hearing Thursday of the House Committee on Human Services, [Texas State Representative Gary] Elkins and other members of the panel considered more than two dozen bills related to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Three hours into the hearing, Elkins asked: “What’s Medicaid?”

The Houston Republican continued: “I know I hear it — I really don’t know what it is. I know that’s a big shock to everybody here in the audience, OK.”

And, for the win….

Medicaid, for the record, is the federal-state health insurance program for low-income people and people with disabilities. Elkins is new to the Human Services Committee. However, he’s served in the House since 1995, where one of the main tasks is crafting the state budget.

A quarter of the state budget is Medicaid.

Is there anyone out there who lives in the 135th Texas House District, has more than half a brain cell, and wants to run against this guy?

Hat tip: Burnt Orange Report

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Comments

  1. #1 D. C. Sessions
    March 23, 2009

    Is there anyone out there who lives in the 135th Texas House District, has more than half a brain cell, and wants to run against this guy?

    First you ask them to disqualify themselves, then to run?

    (Emphasis added.)

  2. #2 Comrade PhysioProf
    March 23, 2009

    Dude, move to Texas and DO IT!!!!

  3. #3 Nick Anthis
    March 23, 2009

    Moving to Texas is one thing… moving to a sprawly Houston suburb is taking things to a whole new level.

  4. #4 Interested Observer
    March 24, 2009

    I am in close contact with a couple of people who are partially incapacitated and on Medicaid. They both visit doctors nearly every week and are taking major tests which appear to be totally unnecessary. It appears that they ENJOY the PERSONAL ATTENTION they receive during medical visits and procedures. I also suspect the doctors view them as easy “marks” and tell them they need all of these expensive tests so as to increase their incomes. Also, they receive subsidized rent and free caretaker housekeeping. One has, over the past year, received $400. diabetic shoes (which he won’t wear), an electric cart (which he doesn’t need and doesn’t use), and is always alert to any other “freebies”. It’s easy to see why 25% of the state budget is now consumed by Medicaid costs.

  5. #5 May
    March 27, 2009

    Re: Interested Observer
    Its rash to say that everyone on Medicaid is an abuser of the program.

  6. #6 Mike 0rtloff
    April 2, 2009

    Interested Observer:

    I’ll trade you my bones that won’t knit, arthritis, constant pain and meds for your health. You can have all the attention I get and the freebies.

    Oh, I get to have your extra years of life too…