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You Haven’t Seen Gov. Gregoire Act This Gubernatorial Since Her Days as AG.

Politics, This Washington   March 23, 2010 at 10:13 pm Josh Feit

Camden reported on Gov. Chris Gregoire’s press conference yesterday. But it’s worth watching a performance like this yourself. Check out the video.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5Ng5lYw3kE&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

The “inequity” that Gov. Gregoire keeps referring to is the flaw in the current Medicare formula that gives lower payouts to states with less expensive coverage. This has consistently screwed over

Washington state where our focus on preventive care (like at Group Health) has brought down our health care costs relative to other states but, in turn, lowered federal payouts to our system.

And her point about bringing money into the Basic Health Plan is a reference to the work Sen. Maria Cantwell did getting an amendment into the health care bill that backs up state plans with federal money.

It’s worth noting that Cantwell’s state plan model—based on the BHP—provides coverage to the working poor (people making 200 percent of poverty) as opposed to Medicaid’s stricter requirments and also gives states the hefty bargaining power that comes with government run plans.


  • Hitler von Mansonstein

    Why not just give everyone a million fucking dollars. I mean, it is only China's money after all. Who's to say that free health care is enough?

    Let me take the opportunity to sum up every leftists post for you.

    I want free cars, free money, free internet, free gold, free phone calls. You aren't truly a 'progressive' unless you give me these things. You're just another jackbooted rethuglican if you tell me otherwise.

  • Timothy

    Now, that's the Gregoire I remember. Where's she been? Bring it.

  • Timothy

    So, why not make the AG and appointed position?

  • disgusted

    You're nasty and illogical. Now more than ever we need to work for the common good (“general welfare” in the Constitution Preamble), not the selfish, extremist individualism promoted by bigots and tea baggers.

    Please go find your rock and crawl back under.

  • http://seattle.gov/spab Jon Morgan

    The inequity is in MediCARE payments; not Medicaid.

  • Josh Feit

    There are reimbursement problems in WA state with both Medicaid (the program for poor people)

    http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/feb/01/gr…

    and Medicare (the program for the elderly)

    http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=189736

    And in the video here, Gregoire namechecks Medicaid.

    However, you're right. I was thinking of the work Rep. Inslee took up. And that focused on Medicare:

    http://www.sunherald.com/2010/03/21/2041770/hea…

  • Common Sense

    We currently spend 17% of our GDP on health care. This number is projected to rise to 25% in the next few years. European countries such as Germany pay 10% of their GDP on health care while receiving their insurance from PRIVATE non-profit companies. If you want to pay 1 out of every 4 dollars on health care while others pay 1 out of 10, you are un-American because you are putting America at a competitive disadvantage. Try using your brain instead of your gut for once.

  • gloomy gus

    Cure worse than the disease, I fear. Remember how well the appointed-AG thing worked nationally in the Bush years? Let's see how the next AG and governor's races go before deciding whether to amend our constitution. McKenna's bonehead move might be all voters need to get more careful who they elect AG next time. Fingers crossed.

  • http://seattle.gov/spab Jon Morgan

    That's part of the point of health reform, dude. Whether it's a single payer system like Canada, a fully socialized system like Britain, or a heavily regulated private system like Germany, other advanced democracies only spend about 10% of their GDP on health care instead of our 16-17%. You have to get everyone (or almost everyone) covered before you can start bringing costs down, and the new law does both. Eventually, we need to move toward covering everyone with a single system, whichever of the above it is.

  • http://seattle.gov/spab Jon Morgan

    Yeah, the big problem tends to be with Medicare. I see that the Governor misspoke. We used to get A LOT of letters on that both when I worked for Patty Murray and Paul Wellstone (MN).

  • http://michaelmaddux.blogspot.com/ Michael M.

    And, for a point of clarification, the health care law as signed reduces the deficit by something like $135 billion (more or less) in the first ten years, and over a trillion in the second ten years. So, it's not China's money, it's our money.

  • http://michaelmaddux.blogspot.com/ Michael M.

    It's not that simple. The other reason we spend so much on health care is because doctors have to perform multiple tests and procedures (racking up their CPT codes) to get paid. The idea that being a medical professional is something to profit from is incredulous.

    If you want to enter a profession to make a lot of money, get your degree in finance. If you want to enter a profession to help people, go into health care. That's how it should be.

    This requires not only a new way of looking at doctors by the American public (including how doctors look at themselves), but also reform to the education system, and a lowering of the cost incurred to become a doctor.

    With 32 million more insured Americans, and a new focus on preventative health care (a la the Cooperative), we're sure as shit going to need some new doctors. But first we have to make that bit of education affordable.

  • tvguide

    We are fortunate indeed to have Chris running Washington during these interesting times.

  • giffy

    I am really torn on this. On one hand I think this lawsuit against health care reform is nonsense and counterproductive. On the other hand I can see the advantage of an independent AG. While McKenna is a tool, our next AG might not be and I would hate say Gov. McKenna to have the ability to keep the AG from doing something I supported or that actually was in the State's interest.

  • MudBaby

    I loved watching her kick McKenna's skanky, whiny little ass. Thanks for posting this video. I agree with Timothy–I would like to see Gregoire bring more of this. I like it when she stands up for the people of our state.

  • Dorothy

    An interesting counterpoint – in NV, the R Governor is demanding that the D Atty General of that state join the lawsuit – http://www.lvrj.com/news/gibbons-pressures-atto…

  • Common Sense

    Sorry if I was unclear, my comment was in response to Hitler von Mansonstein. You are re-iterating what I was attempting to say. The new healthcare deal will hopefully bring costs down to near what others countries pay. If you are against the healthcare reform, then you are putting America at a disadvantage on the world stage. I personally like the German model because it is so efficient yet allays the right-wing anti-government fears by keeping the insurance privatized while still paying for all citizens. Thanks for clarifying.

  • Amy

    Does she not understand the attorney general is elected by the people? She did not appoint him. And she endorsed John Lautenberg, his opponent, in 2008. Why would he defer to her? She’s nuts!

  • pl

    Amy: get it right. His name is John Ladenburg.