Politics

Hypocrisy Alert: Seven States Suing Federal Government Request Federal Subsidies

By Speaker's Press Shop

In the latest example of Republican politicians? hypocrisy, seven states suing the federal government claiming the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional have requested and been approved for federal subsidies through reform to cover early retiree health care costs.

AP, ?Some states suing feds also claim health subsidies?:

Some states suing to toss out President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul law are also lining up to claim a share of its subsidies for the medical costs of retired employees.

An administration official said Tuesday seven states suing the federal government are among 16 already approved for subsidies to help with the health care costs of early retirees. The seven are Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Nevada.

Times-Picayune, ?Louisiana approved for participation in program it is suing to end?:

Louisiana is one of seven states suing to overturn President Barack Obama’s health-care overhaul law while also applying to get money provided under the legislation to help cover the medical costs of early retirees?

In addition to the state of Louisiana itself, 16 Louisiana companies and government entities also were approved for participation. They include Entergy Corp., St. Tammany Parish public schools, St. Bernard Parish government, the Orleans Levee District, Plaquemines Parish government and the Albemarle Corp.

The Journal Gazette (Indiana), ?Feds OK 75 in state for health subsidies?:

The state of Indiana, dozens of schools, one of the state?s largest private employers and unions will receive money under the nation?s new health insurance law when early retirees file high-cost medical claims.

Indiana applied for the subsidies even though it has sued to block the health insurance law?

In addition, the state of Indiana, Eli Lilly and Co., Elkhart County, Ball State University, Indiana State Police, NiSource, Purdue University and unions representing plumbers, painters and cement masons were accepted into the program.

Americans are all too familiar with Congressional Republican hypocrisy. Just last week, in a speech before the City Club of Cleveland, Mr. Boehner said ?all this stimulus spending has gotten us nowhere??:

But that very same day the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a report showing the Recovery Act added as many as 3.3 million jobs and the Ohio Department of Transportation announced that 9,500 Ohioans were employed on Recovery Act-funded construction projects just in the month of July.

Mr. Boehner is also on the record supporting the use of Recovery Act funds in his home state of Ohio stating it ?will create much-needed jobs.”

In fact, many Congressional Republicans have publicly criticized the Recovery Act while going out of their way to take credit for it in their home districts.

Full post as published by The Gavel on September 01, 2010 (boomark / email).