John Kasich has some ‘splainin to do about his decision to play along with ♡bamaCare!!! in Ohio:
After just 17 months, Kasich’s Obamacare expansion has cost federal taxpayers $3.7 billion. That’s over $1 billion more than the Kasich administration projected for the expansion’s first 18 months.
Obamacare expansion benefits for working-age Ohioans who aren’t disabled and don’t have kids cost taxpayers more than $300 million every month from December to May, based on Ohio Department of Medicaid figures.
Although enrollment — which Kasich said would reach 366,000 by next month — has leveled out at around 540,000, Obamacare expansion costs have increased each month for the past six months.
ODM reported spending $327 million on Kasich’s Obamacare expansion in May, with all the costs covered by federal taxpayers.
Starting in January 2017, Ohio taxpayers will be on the hook for 5 percent of the expansion’s benefit costs. The state share alone will top $200 million in 2017.
The folly of Kasich’s decision isn’t just in the budget-busting sums or how it will haunt him on the campaign trail. Or even how he’s tarnished the GOP brand. The longterm harm he’s done to the people of the state lies in the future loss of sovereignty for Ohioans, who are now on the hook with yet another federal program. If Washington doesn’t like some future decision made by Ohio voters or the state government in Columbus, Washington can always threaten to take away those sweet, sweet ♡bamaCare!!! dollars.
Remember, in the modern welfare state, once you take the Danegeld you’ll never be rid of the Dane.
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