New Texas Guv On Reports He’ll Cave On Obamacare: ‘Fear Not’!

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott speaks during the Rio Grande Valley Gubernatorial Debate between him and Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis in Edinburg, Texas on Friday, Sept. 19, 2014. The debate was the first of two s... Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott speaks during the Rio Grande Valley Gubernatorial Debate between him and Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis in Edinburg, Texas on Friday, Sept. 19, 2014. The debate was the first of two scheduled before the November election. (AP Photo/The McAllen Monitor, Joel Martinez, Pool) MORE LESS
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Incoming Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office is pushing back against recent optimism among Medicaid expansion advocates that he might be receptive to participating in that key Obamacare program.

Abbott spokeswoman Amelia Chasse sought to reassure conservatives that Abbott (R) still opposed the health care reform law in a statement to National Review Online on Friday.

“Fear not — Governor-elect Abbott has fought Obamacare and will continue to fight against it. He believes the ACA is not the best option for patients, doctors or taxpayers,” Chasse said. “Greg Abbott believes that Texas should be able to address our unique health-care situation without federal interference, putting patients and doctors in charge of health-care decisions.”

As TPM reported, Medicaid expansion supporters in Texas were encouraged because Abbott had asked in a closed-door meeting about the alternative plan that Republican-led Utah had been negotiating with the Obama administration.

But an unnamed source close to Abbott told NRO that gesture had been misinterpreted. The Utah plan had come up during the meeting, and Abbott didn’t know much about it, the source said, but he isn’t interested in pursuing a similar model in Texas.

“His position has been grossly mischaracterized,” the source said.

Abbott’s office did not respond to TPM’s request for comment.

If Texas did expand Medicaid, it would be a huge win for Obamacare’s supporters. The state, a conservative bellwether as it is, also accounts for about one-fourth of the 4 million people left uncovered under the law because of GOP refusal to participate in the program.

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  1. Guess he’s having a little trouble threading that needle, huh?

  2. God forbid people of Texas have such basic needs access to healthcare, a living wage or a decent education. No, by God, I will take our country back to the heavenly days before the Magna Carta ! All will be well then !!! (Just think of the options in public executions !)

  3. “Fear not. We will instill Fear of The Bla-man and and his policies at every opportunity.”

  4. Avatar for Rmj Rmj says:

    Uh, Governor? Here in Texas health-care decisions are decided by your insurance company. Especially if you are stuck with employer provided care, insurance decides who your doctor is going to be, and what health care you can afford.

    And if you aren’t poor enough to qualify for ACA subsidies, what insurance you can afford again determines what doctor you can choose, even what hospital you can go to. And your choices are liable to be slim, indeed.

    And then there are the poor, of which we have a large number, who can’t get any healthcare at all, for whom it has been determined they should just go to the county hospitals. none of which need to shoulder the burden of your blinkered ideology.

    But I guess none of that matters, huh? After all, your healthcare is taken care of, isn’t it?

  5. Avatar for sjk sjk says:

    No healthcare for you, said the guy in the wheelchair. texans must be freaking stupid to have elected this POS. The irony burns.

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