The Senate Thumbs Their Noses at the House and Governor

By Gene Arnold, former Legislator from Rocky Mount and NC SPIN panelist. With regard to the Medicaid Bill, Senate Bill 4, the Senate has once again fired off one of its loose cannons. It seems they have a propensity to leap forward without the proper analysis of what their actions may entail or cause.

The Governor asked the legislature to work with him to carefully analyze the benefits and ramifications of the several options available in the proposed Obamacare and to research the current cost and the future cost of whatever actions the state might pursue.  It appears the federal government proposal would aid 500,000 poor people by providing insurance being paid 100 per cent by Washington for the first two years and 90 per cent thereafter.  This would allow  the state two years to bring under control the costs of Medicaid and to plan ahead.  If SB4 passes as it is written the future costs may be at the expense of the state exclusively and require the state to pay all Medicaid costs or reduce benefits for the poor even more.

The point is we just don't know.  The rationale given by the SB4's sponsor was that you can't trust the federal government and the processing of the bill was out of his hands.  This implies the Senate leadership is pushing the legislation and, by doing so, is driving a wedge between the Governor and the House on one side and the Senate on the other.

The continuing lack of transparency by the Senate may have long lasting negative effects on its legislative relationships. If the two branches of government cannot cooperate with each other, their tenure will be short lived.  The North Carolina populace will not tolerate these activities to last very long.