Gov. Sean Parnell visited Washington, D.C., last week for a meeting of the National Governors Association, and he came back believing that “Washington is broken,” he said at a press conference Thursday morning.
But Parnell, who has been tipped as a potential Republican candidate to take on Democratic Sen. Mark Begich next year, avoided talk of whether he wants to go to Congress to work on national issues.
Instead he focused on Alaska and its relationship with the federal government — namely an opt-in Medicaid expansion, which he said Alaska should not pursue this year.
Parnell referred to the fast-approaching set of fiscal hurdles the United States faces.
Without a deal between the divided houses of Congress and the White House to avert it, the deep, broad spending cuts collectively referred to as “sequestration” will take effect at the end of the day on Friday.
If a budget or continuing resolution is not signed into law to keep the federal government funded by late March, a government shutdown may follow.
The U.S. is also expected to reach its borrowing limit, which was temporarily suspended in January, sometime this summer, setting the stage for yet another showdown between the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and President Barack Obama over raising the so-called “debt ceiling.”
“We will have gone from January’s ‘fiscal cliff,’ to the March 1 sequester, to the April 1 potential government shutdown, crisis to crisis,” Parnell said. “And then oh, by the way, the debt limit challenge this fall as well. That’s the state of play with the federal government right now.”
Against that backdrop, Parnell argued, it is too risky for Alaska to go forward with an expansion of Medicaid.
“During the remaining days of this legislative session, I will not ask the Legislature for money or authorization to expand Medicaid,” said Parnell. “At this point, the federal government cannot even say with certainty whether it can meet its obligation to cut welfare checks on April 1st, let alone finance Medicaid expansion.”
Alaska has an option under the Affordable Care Act, the law sometimes called “Obamacare,” to allow the federal government to expand Medicaid rolls to 133 percent of the federal poverty level — largely at the latter’s expense — in the state.
But Parnell said he told U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius while in Washington, D.C., last week that he believes Alaska could end up in a tight spot if the federal government withdraws Medicaid funding amid its fiscal difficulties.
“I told the secretary that I was very concerned about expanding Medicaid where the federal government could renege on its promise to fund the lion’s share of any Medicaid expansion,” Parnell said, adding, “If we expand the Medicaid population and the federal government fails to keep its financial commitment, the state would likely have to backfill for lost federal dollars to cover beneficiaries of the expansion and to cover the health coverage of everyone currently in the program.”
Medicaid is largely shielded from the sequestration cuts.
An HHS official, asked to respond Thursday to Parnell’s remarks, pointed to a section of a December 2012 memorandum from his department addressing “frequently asked questions.”
“A state may choose whether and when to expand, and, if a state covers the expansion group, it may decide later to drop the coverage,” one FAQ answer states.
Asked whether he would veto a Medicaid expansion if it comes from the Alaska State Legislature, Parnell was noncommittal but reiterated that he opposes expanding the program.
Parnell said he will revisit the issue of Medicaid in the fiscal year 2015 budget proposal he is set to submit in December, remarking that he hopes “we will have a greater sense of direction from the federal government at that point.”
The chairman of the Alaska Democratic Party released a statement Thursday afternoon criticizing Parnell’s decision on Medicaid expansion.
“With this decision, Sean Parnell has put partisan politics ahead of Alaskans’ health and our state’s economy,” Mike Wenstrup’s statement read in part.
Parnell also said in his remarks at the press conference, “With Washington broken and broke, it just seems to me that Alaska has got to take care of ourselves and work smarter to secure its own future with the vast natural resources and the talent that we have here.”
Summarizing his thoughts a few minutes later in response to a question, Parnell added, “I concluded that Alaska has to be positioned to sustain itself economically like we were promised in statehood. I came back saying, ‘This is so messed up right now in Washington that I will do everything I can to make sure that we grow our economy here and we provide opportunities for Alaskans here without being dependent upon Washington to create those opportunities,’ because I question whether they really can anymore.”
Parnell declined to comment on a 2014 campaign, reiterating earlier statements that any announcement on his political future will come after the legislative session ends in April.
Parnell is also eligible to seek reelection in 2014.
During the press conference, Parnell also praised the Legislature, both houses of which are controlled by Republican-dominated caucuses this year. He said he has a “very high” opinion of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“I think they’re doing a great job of working hard on legislation that’s before them,” said Parnell.
This week marks a halfway point in the 90-day session. While oil tax reform legislation and other high-priority bills are advancing through the committee process, all but a handful of bills have yet to make it to the floor of either chamber, much less the governor’s desk.
One major bill, House Bill 80, relaxing wastewater discharge restrictions on cruise ships and allowing for mixing zones, is becoming law, Parnell announced. The governor said it received his signature Thursday morning.
• Contact reporter Mark D. Miller at 586-1821 or at mark.d.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (51)
Add commentParnell is losing it. He
Parnell is losing it. This lunatic needs to be impeached before he does any more damage.
Some Alaskans might have their lives saved and avoid bankruptcy
with expansion of Medicaid. It's an important step in getting all Alaskans access to affordable health care in Alaska and controlling ever-increasing costs of health care overall in Alaska and nationwide.
Program will be funded by the federal government 100% for three years and 90% after that. Details and facts here:
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3801
As long as one gets elected with corporate donations from big oil, actual governance for the people of Alaska apparently doesn't matter. Choose respect? This is not a governor. This is incompetence and corruption, both grounds for recall.
fbudz
Of the top 20 states GDP per capita (the producer states), 15 are blue states. Of the bottom 20 GDP per capita (the moocher states), 15 are red states.
The same goes for tax revenues, and pretty much every other measure of economic productivity.
Incidentally, oil production has DECLINED every year that Parnell has been in office.
How high is Alaska in GDP Per Capita?
I believe we're in the top 5...
And I don't know why you keep bringing up Parnell and Oil, I already stated I disagree with him. But without the massive federal overreach, I have to think this state could be cranking out a lot more.
Once again, please show me the need for EXPANDED Medicaid. You say some Alaskans may have their lives saved and avoid bankruptcy, where are you getting this information? Are there actually Alaskans who have died or been forced into bankruptcy that would not have with the expanded Medicaid? My guess is you're just making it up. I haven't heard of a huge population boom nor a swelling of the Medicaid roles. If the need isn't there, then we shouldn't be taking the funding. Just my opinion.
Now I know why Governor Palin
Now I know why Governor Palin chose not to move her family to Juneau. Such vitriol coming from the progressives. Can you imagine what her kids would have been subjected to in the schools if the parents on here are any indication? Kids are little sponges and they mostly mimic what they're taught at home.
I love how the lefties always jump right into the colorful language. Actually, I don't. It's juvenile and a sure sign that you've lost the argument.
Gov. Parnell is exactly right in not accepting additional Medicaid dollars. Why would anybody think that down the road the almighty feds would keep their promise? Then who's going to pay all those additional Medicaid bills? That would be the citizens of Alaska through increased taxes or decreased services somewhere else.
We're supposed to be getting off the government dole, not increasing the role government plays in our lives.
DUH! -Typical,
and another epic FAIL from this governor. Unlike Chris Christie, Parnell didn't do his homework, and so doesn't realize this is a far better deal than doing nothing. Tired of stupid? Vote democrat.
calypso
do you have a default paragraph you always open with when parnell is the subject of an article? You always say the same thing. Go back and read this thread. There are conservatives and liberals alike indicating overwhelming disdain for this governor and his particular position on this issue.
Your head in the sand blame game is getting old. Change the station. And of course you support parnell no matter what. You're a partisan hack. Turning down fed dollars for medicaid may seem fine to you, but that's only because you don't care. And in that regard, you don't have a voice when your only position is to take away a service that you don't use. If you don't care about it, don't weigh in on it.
How dare anyone say that more people should get healthcare here?
Who would ever challenge the holy wisdom that poor people must all get sick and die as quickly as possible!
Don't they realize that the ALL this country's wealth, including all oil wealth, naturally belongs in secret accounts in the Caymans?
How dare anyone challenge the any part of our new economic autocracy, including our local petrocracy? Do we not realize that servitude to our corporate overlords is our natural station in life? All power to the .001%! Turn in all subversives-including yourself, if necessary!.
Grand Petro-Vizier Parnell commands it.
correct fdubz
Alaska is #3. All of the other red states that are in the top 20 are resource extraction states - oil/gas/coal or agribiz. The blue states are there because they actually produce something of added value with their hands or brains.
You strongly implied that increased productivity was linked to red states. That's demonstrably wrong.
Regarding Parnell, I wasn't talking about his taxes, I was simply pointing out that the state has become less productive under his watch. He naturally blames everyone else, such as the big bad Feds, the dems, or (implicitly) Sarah Palin, but the buck never stops with our slippery lawyer governor...or the oil companies he works for.
Go Sean Go!!!
We Alaskan's must get off the Federal tit before the economy collapses. We will all be better off in the event that happens. Further, secession sounds pretty good to me right about now. Maybe then we could develop our own real economy and trade with the world. I am an Alaskan first then an American. It's all about states rights folks. Those of you that disagree may now board the next boat to Russia or Cuba; your choice.
You do understand, AKJ...
...that Alaska has a bigger mouthful than any state in the union, right? Cut Alaska off from the federal tit and we shrivel up and die.
If you don't understand that, you're a fool. Sorry to break it to you.
The Right Stuff....
Alaska's popular Governor with a supportive legislature--including Dennis. Who's right??
"popular governor"??
He has a 46% approval rating. That's substantially lower than Obama's rating.
And that's before his big giveaway gets rubberstamped. Once the state plunges into deficit spending his rating will be around 26% - only you 'true believers' will still stick by him.
To qoute the Governor...
“If we expand the Medicaid population and the federal government fails to keep its financial commitment, the state would likely have to backfill for lost federal dollars to cover beneficiaries of the expansion and to cover the health coverage of everyone currently in the program.”
Great, now take that same logic and apply it to oil tax give-away. What if you give BP 2 billion dollars and they don't keep their committment to put more oil in TAPS?
Only difference is, in this case the Federal government is giving money that will help all Alaskan's, not just those on Medicaid. Hint: when uninsured people go to the emergency room, the hospital charges your insurance more for your care and you pay for it through higher rates.
It's funny how states' rights take the stage
every time there's a democratic president---Then when a repub gets elected, all that gets hushed up like the anti-war movement is now...
But what's really amazing is that Americans will allow themselves to be manipulated by the two-party system, without asking themselves more about who is pulling the strings.
Quite an interesting turn-out this these last few years, with Barack in the White House and republicans plumbing the depths of right-wing populism: It's uncovered something that looks a lot like a powder keg. People are fed up---But the thing is, it's just about everyone: Those on the left are just barely muzzled by what many still hope is their guy in the Executive...
The left isn't about to plumb the depths of THEIR fringe, not when the right people are still making a tidy sum--- but that's just going to [filtered word] off people even more.
Meanwhile, the machinery has been quietly put in place for the most thorough totalitarian state in history: Our phones, our computers, our ability to receive medical care, to use money, to travel freely---And our institutions are being starved or dismantled as we are systematically turned against one another, broken up into pieces so small, we can't possibly work together.
We use what's left of our freedoms with all the acumen of toddlers on a daycare playground, throwing sand in each others' faces and shouting insults bereft of meaning.
Yes, Washington is broken---WE'RE broken, and the only place we're going to be able to fix it is right here
Oh Jamison
Where's the sport in truth?
jamison - The dismantling is
jamison - The dismantling is all by design. It's called the Cloward-Piven Strategy. Look it up and be afraid, very afraid. It's not good.
sorry Lat---
weak moment....
Palin/Parnell
Alaska will never be able to make any progress until we can get rid of everyone that has anything to do with the Palin and now Parnell admin. Alaska not electing Bill Walker a real Alaskan really set back our State.
You can just not believe anything Parnell says, he is a former oil lobbyist and he is just can't be trusted.
Parnell is pushing a ideology to allow him to make points with the national level GOP.
Whatever happens we need to only allow this guy one term.
Please don't let Jerry Prevo and his fellow criminals at ABT get their man elected.
Healthcare v Stealthcare
ADCME9- It seems you were referring to what I call Stealthcare. This is when uninsured people go to the emergency room for emergency care (since preventive care doesn't exist for the uninsured).
If you do the math, 40,000 people would qualify for additional coverage under the expansion. The plan would cover Alaskan making less than $15,400 a year. This would cover about 34,000 Alaskans at a cost of $220M. Per the Dept. of Labor, the 2012 population count was 732,298 meaning the expansion would cover an addition 4.5% of the population. The stats on DOLs website should add support that Alaskans who live under the federal poverty line just can't make it here.
Would I want to get more people covered so they too can have productive happy lives? Yes.
Do I want to increase our national debt? No. Where is the balance? Simple, we must increase revenue in the medicare program so that pieces of the puzzle pay for themselves. The program itself must be overhauled and audited. Areas that can be easily reviewed are in medicare eligibility, beneficiary costs, and program financing. We should also ensure proper
medicare payments to providers and plans. I think that before expending it, we should account for it. We should also update delivery system reform and care for high-need beneficiaries and maybe take a look at the medicare program structure and medicare program administration, including program integrity. Once the program is fixed, I every state would want the expansion. In the mean time, let's expand it. Let's cover the needy and heal the sick.
alavini - You're confusing
alavini - You're confusing two separate government programs. MediCARE = old people, MediCAID = poor people.
Obamacare has already begun gutting Medicare. Over the next ten years $716B will be cut from the program and spent in other areas of Obamacare. It's hardly a good deal for the seniors.
Parnell is refusing additional Medicaid money from the feds because he doesn't believe their promises of continued financing. It's a good move.
Rather than increasing the Medicaid rolls, let's try to put people to work so they can qualify for private healthcare. For those that truly need the program, it needs reforming. Presently, it's unsustainable.
Staying in school and graduating and not having any out of wedlock children or getting involved in drug use would be a good start to leading a future productive life.