PD Admits Double Standard
From the PD
Strickland’s spokesman said last week that Medicaid enrollment has risen more than expected. Meanwhile, Ohio’s economy is rickety, and, historically, a rickety state economy translates into even greater demand for Medicaid services.
With some justice, the administration’s decision inspired complaints because, in the poker game of Statehouse budget-writing, the governor’s promises represented a very large IOU to powerful (and, in fairness, vital) health care lobbies. What’s more, Democrats are supposed to expand social services, not leash them. Had a Republican acted as Strickland acted, he or she would have been likened to Scrooge. But on Medicaid, as on school funding and on (no) health benefits for partners of gay state employees, Strickland wears a Teflon jacket Ronald Reagan might have envied.
Gov. Mulligan’s constituencies (i.e. the Media and unions) realize he was elected to do nothing for 2 years, so they will give him a pass for now. The ABJ jus t wrote a glowing piece hailing his lack of accomplishment. However, after November, he will be expected to turn this state into a socialist haven. If he doesn’t, then the fur will fly.