Herbert: What Ails Florida? (Kids Kicked off healh insurance by Jebbie)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/12/opinion/12HERB.html

The State of Florida really knows how to hurt a kid. It has money for sports stadiums. It lavishes billions of dollars' worth of tax breaks and other goodies on private corporations. It even has money for a substantial reserve fund. But, in an episode of embarrassing and unnecessary tightfistedness, it has frozen enrollment in a badly needed state health insurance program for low-income children.

Some 60,000 to 70,000 children who are eligible for KidCare, Florida's version of the popular and successful children's health insurance program, have been put on waiting lists. Even kids who already have serious health problems are being placed on the lists, which are lengthening every day. No one knows when — or if — the children will get coverage.

"We've had families tell us they've put off buying groceries so they can afford to take their child to the doctor," said Conni Wells, director of the Florida Institute for Family Involvement, which advises families on health matters.

The institute has alerted officials to the plight of a family in Jacksonville that has three sons who need medical care now. The boys' father had been laid off for a while and during that period the children were covered by Medicaid. Now that the father has resumed working, the children have been bounced off Medicaid but qualify for coverage under KidCare. They're on a waiting list. (The family can't afford private health insurance.)

<snip>

(Jebbie's spokesman)
And he made a point of noting, "The KidCare program is not an entitlement."

[LatteLib]

1. Jebbie is a big hairy

ASSHOLE

I wish somehow someway those damn people could be poor for the rest of their lives.

[Ilsa]

2. Same problem in Texas.

The Bushies talk blabber and gag over compassion, but they fail the test where the rubber meets the road. I suspect our kids on the waiting list reaches six figures by now.

Our state college tuition is going up, double-digits.

I work with new moms and have noticed (I have no proof yet) how hard it is for some of them to get loans of breastpumps from the state now. It may not seem like a big deal, but one side of the state is pushing really hard for higher levels of breastfeeding because it saves the state tons of money in medical bills. They are also encouraging moms to get back to work, yet they are failing to provide the equipment they need to make all these grand plans work.

I wish I could move out of the country.

[Grins]

3. WE control you...

Make no change to your set. WE are in charge.

WE say no to contraceptive.
WE say no to abortion.
WE say have that child, but no health care or insurance.
WE say, "Get a job, bum!"

WE don't give a damn about kids because they can't vote.

WE are compassionate conservatives.

(One for the Top-10 Idiots?)

[Venomous_Rhetoric]

4. Nothing

Pisses me off more than the republican attitude to BETTER and CHEAPER universal health care.
For some SICK reason, these assholes would rather pay MORE for LESS than pay LESS for MORE that includes EVERYONE.
I swear, I need a brick to pound the SIMPLE concept into their heads.
You would think that a tight fisted conservative republican would want to SAVE money, not spend it.
But, Those "insurance for life" companies have their full support.

They like to point to Japan and say 'see! we fixed a country"
Well, Japan has adopted a single payer system like Canada as well, so wake up REpubicans, Even the Japs realize that profit making has a limit, and that a basic need like health care must NOT be a profit industry.
I don't give a DAMN what any insurance company says against Single payers systems, they care about one thing, and thats PROFIT not YOU

[The Zanti Regent]

7. B S Bob still opposes single payer

You know, if we HAD single payer, we'd save up a lot of money, but Bullshit Bob and his pals at the Screw York Times are too busy blaming us for abandoning HMOs...

[Skittles]

5. caring for children is not an entitlement

I'll say it again: "compassionate conservatives" MAKE ME SICK.

[The Zanti Regent]

6. Republican men will always have access to abortion for thier mistresses

As for others, the GOP says, too bad...