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I attended most of today’s Government Operations Committee meeting otherwise known as the “dog and pony show” on the S-7 substitute Medicaid Expansion bill (pg 3 Sec. 105c Line 19 cites the ACA)

The whole one and a half leading up to the 1:30pm break was mostly a pep rally  parade of the Expansion faithful. Big Health and the and sundry organizations, formerly many of whom swore they were against ObamaCare yet testified in favor of a major competent of it, the Medicaid Expansion.

Michigan Dept of Community Health Director Jim Haveman unable to contain himself gushed with excitement! “This bill has a ‘made in Michigan’ stamp on it,” said  “The policy is valid, and its programs are a great opportunity to offer healthcare to 320,000 people in 2014 and upwards of 477,000 people in 2016.”

In addition, some representatives of these organizations admitted that there were “complex” unanswered questions in particular about employers just migrating employees into Medicaid instead of buying the ObamaCare “qualified” insurance and that the debate about cost “was ongoing.” Let’s by all means expand in Michigan with important unanswered questions and ongoing debates about cost!

During the proceedings I wanted to jump up more than once and call out, “I object, leading the witness!” when Chairman Richardville guided those in favor of expanding into apparently forgotten script, such as how wonderfully innovative the bill plan was, a model for the nation!

You just can’t make this stuff up folks

“Reformed Conservative” Rep Mike Shirkey also put in an appearance in favor of the expansion bill in what can only be unfortunately categorized as an exercise in ego.

<—I was sitting behind him just to the right and before he testified, took the opportunity to send him this text  Never did get a response. (RTW seems like a looong time ago)

Early on Chairman Richardville announced that tomorrow the Committee would vote on S-7, Senator Caswell’s bill and Senator Colbeck’s bill. The committee highness’s granting Sen. Colbeck an audience to present his bill tomorrow while in all probability intend on killing it in committee while passing out the ObamaCare Medicaid Expansion S-7 bill Senate substitute bill. We in turn will have a chance to kill the expansion bill before it goes for a Senate floor vote probably late August when the session resumes after a summer break.

Please do not think I am discouraging you in any way from attending tomorrow (Wed) or sending in testimony in support for Sen. Colbeck’s bills, free market options to an expansion. They need to hear from voters who support a free market approach! (You may also watch or listen to how government cheese is made using your tax dollars  HERE formerly/http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=&msgid=0&act=11111&c=698934&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fsenate.michigan.gov%2Ftvschedule%2Ftvlive.htmand you should.)

However, I think it may be time to seriously investigate the rumors I have been hearing about running 3rd Party candidates in the General Election against GOP Senators who will vote YES to expand Medicaid.

But that might lead to a Democrat win you may say! However, I say what is the difference when you have  majority party (GOP) representatives ALREADY voting for and pushing the minority (Liberal) party agenda?

Whiling waiting for these reps to wake up and decide whose team they are really on, the “better than the Democrat! ‘spirit of the Party‘ strategy being used on Conservatives to hold their noses and vote for candidates has seen better days. President Washington would adamantly agree “Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the Spirit of Party generally. . . . A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.” George Washington, Farewell Address — 1796