Now that the state is in budget crisis mode...

[Hoss]

....guess who is all for the Medicaid expansion now?

http://kfor.com/2016/05/16/in-surprising-turnabout-oklahoma-eyes-medicaid-expansion/

[heironymouspasparagus]

....guess who is all for the Medicaid expansion now?

http://kfor.com/2016/05/16/in-surprising-turnabout-oklahoma-eyes-medicaid-expansion/

Hypocrites.
Liars.
Pharisees.

Failin' and her Clown Show.  There is no lie or deception large enough to eclipse their hubris, arrogance, and intellectual dishonesty.

This is something that should have been done years ago.

[cannon_fodder]

Platform and policy is one thing, but a total lack of integrity just goes too far for me. Did anyone ever believe that any of those clowns actually thought turning down $400,000,000.00 a year was a sound fiscally conservative decision? OF COURSE NOT!

I think the mortgage deduction is bad policy - it rewards people for buying as much house as they can. Whether they can afford it or not doesn't matter. The more house you have, the bigger your tax savings! Woe be the person who would be financially better off renting or living small. BUT --- am I going to turn down my mortgage deduction?  Nope.

Yet Oklahoma is apparently rich enough to stand on our principles and turn down $400,000,000 a year in healthcare subsidy.  Starting next year the net to our state will "only" be ~$360,000,000 a year as may have to pick up 10% of the cost. Add in our fun "multiplier" of 4.3 (governments LOVE to tout multipliers for their other economic programs) and Oklahoma will see a total economic impact of $1,720,000,000.00 per year. That's a greater impact on the state than the Cherokee Nation. How fast would we throw money at any industry that was bringing in a $1.7 Billion annual economic impact, even if they demanded $40mil a year in incentives?

We're a poor state. We are an unhealthy state. What the hell are we doing turning down 10:1 dollars for healthcare?

But I have a great idea, lets give the wealthiest people tax breaks, the wealthiest companies giant subsidies and tax breaks, then raise taxes on the poor and middle class people, cut their tax credits, then eviscerate education. Then just sit back and wait for prosperity to roll in.

Shenanigans. No one believes what they are selling is a cure-all. They know it's poison, but so long as they can take their profits and haul their chuck wagon out of town before people grab the pitchforks they'll keep selling their medicine.

[heironymouspasparagus]

And taking away the child credit, and earned income credit. 

It's easy to be cruel to poor people.  Especially when you are rich and get to keep your big breaks.

[patric]

Oklahoma can no longer afford irrational Obamacare hatred

Just how long can a state like Oklahoma spite itself, on purpose, because it doesn't like the president? What would it take for officials in the Sooner State to succumb to arithmetic?

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/oklahoma-can-no-longer-afford-irrational-obamacare-hatred

[heironymouspasparagus]

Oklahoma can no longer afford irrational Obamacare hatred

This shift has been predicted for years, though it's taking longer than health care advocates had hoped. Just how long can a state like Oklahoma spite itself, on purpose, because it doesn't like the president? What would it take for officials in the Sooner State to succumb to arithmetic?

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/oklahoma-can-no-longer-afford-irrational-obamacare-hatred

It would take a brain - even one split amongst them would help.  And actually caring about the state and the people in it MORE than "getting theirs".

[Townsend]

Medicaid 'Rebalancing' Plan Likely Dead in Oklahoma

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/medicaid-rebalancing-plan-likely-dead-oklahoma

A proposal to rebalance the state's Medicaid population and tap into an infusion of federal funding under the Affordable Care Act appears to be dead in the Oklahoma Legislature.

With just one week remaining before lawmakers are set to adjourn, Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman says there isn't enough support in the GOP-controlled Senate to approve it. A proposed $1.50-per-pack tax increase on cigarettes to help pay for the state's share was defeated in the Oklahoma House.

Without more funding, the state's Medicaid agency says they will have to impose 25 percent cuts to Medicaid provider rates. Oklahoma Health Care Authority CEO Nico Gomez says a plan to vote on those rate cuts Monday will be tabled until lawmakers reach an overall budget agreement.

[patric]

...because Gov. Failin is to left-wing radical for the GOP legislature?

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/21/oklahoma-senator-nathan-dahm-vetoed-abortion-ban-bill

[Townsend]

...because Gov. Failin is to left-wing radical for the GOP legislature?

She's going more mainstream so her VP candidacy will be as realistic and remarkable as Palin's.

[heironymouspasparagus]

...because Gov. Failin is to left-wing radical for the GOP legislature?

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/21/oklahoma-senator-nathan-dahm-vetoed-abortion-ban-bill

If ya go to Dahm's Senate profile, all becomes clear.  Home Schooled.  Rhema Bible Cult parents.

Software Developer - yeah, right....not a very good one.

And his picture - hate to even think about what is going on in his mind at that moment.

http://www.oksenate.gov/senators/biographies/dahm_bio.aspx

[Conan71]

If ya go to Dahm's Senate profile, all becomes clear.  Home Schooled.  Rhema Bible Cult parents.

Software Developer - yeah, right....not a very good one.

And his picture - hate to even think about what is going on in his mind at that moment.

http://www.oksenate.gov/senators/biographies/dahm_bio.aspx

Stereotypical OK Legislature closet case.

[Townsend]

Republican Leaders, Governor Reach Budget Deal

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/audio-republican-leaders-governor-reach-budget-deal

Republican legislative leaders say they've reached a budget deal with the governor's office that protects core state services and includes no further cuts to public schools.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Clark Jolley says the deal includes enough new revenue sources to close about $1 billion of the $1.3 billion hole in next year's budget. As result, state agencies will have to absorb about $300 million in cuts from last year's appropriations.

The deal includes taking a total of $144 million from the state's Rainy Day Fund, leaving the state's emergency fund with a balance of about $241 million.

Jolley declined to discuss further details ahead of a joint news conference scheduled for later Tuesday with the governor and House leaders.

Both chambers must approve the budget before Friday's adjournment.

[Hoss]

Stereotypical OK Legislature closet case.

A friend of mine and I were out for lunch today; they had CNN on where we were and they were talking about bringing charges against the governor of VA (who is a democrat) for campaign finance fraud.

I made the comment "why is the Democrats get busted for finances and the Republicans get busted for sex crimes".  It feels like a bad joke.

[Red Arrow]

"why is the Democrats get busted for finances and the Republicans get busted for sex crimes".  It feels like a bad joke.

It does seem kind of sdrawkcab.

(backwards  )

[Conan71]

A friend of mine and I were out for lunch today; they had CNN on where we were and they were talking about bringing charges against the governor of VA (who is a democrat) for campaign finance fraud.

I made the comment "why is the Democrats get busted for finances and the Republicans get busted for sex crimes".  It feels like a bad joke.

The point being, Republicans are bigger perverts than they are greedy bastards and Democrats really can't stand the idea of living in a trailer park.