Jack Murphy, who is seeking his fourth term in office for State Senate District 27 in Forsyth County, speaks out on Obamacare.
In a statement released Monday, Sen. Murphy writes:
Over the past few weeks, much has been said and debated about the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Obamacare. I think it is truly a sad time in our nation’s history when our trusted leaders can single handedly rewrite the Constitution, diminishing the tireless efforts of many who fought to bring freedom and choice to our nation. Despite this setback, we must continue to fight to uphold the Constitution and prevent the Obama Administration from infringing on the rights of all Americans and Georgians. Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court turned a deaf ear to the voice of millions of Americans who spoke out against this plan, further weakening our nation’s founding principle of a democracy of the people, by the people.
As each of us try to make sense of the Supreme Courts ruling, it is helpful to look at Obamacare by the numbers to determine how it will impact the citizens of our state. Below you will find some helpful facts and figures which may shed some light on the program and how Georgia will fund and support this federal directive.
Obamacare’s projected impact on the state of Georgia:
Enrollment Growth
• An additional 620,000 people will be enrolled in Medicaid in 2014 growing to almost 695,000 by 2023
• The addition of 620,000 new people in 2014 represents a 34% increase in Medicaid rolls
• Obamacare will increase the percent of Georgians on Medicaid from 17.6 percent today to 24.2 percent in 2014
Projected State Fiscal Impact related to Medicaid and PeachCare
• 2014 (Six months cost – effective Jan. 1, 2014)
o State Funds Cost: $76.3 million
o Total Funds (State + Federal) Cost: $1.9 billion
• 2015
o State Funds Cost: $219.8 million
o Total Funds (State + Federal) Cost: $3.7 billion
• 10 Year total (2014 – 2023)
o State Funds Cost: $4.5 billion
o Total Funds (State + Federal) Cost: $40.8 billionOur nation’s number one issue remains a suffering economy and dismal unemployment rates. There is no doubt that this federal mandate will kill the entrepreneurial spirit which makes our nation so great and further stifle the economy and slow job growth. A mandate such as this only perpetuates a dull economy by placing costly restrictions on our businesses and adding cost to the American family. This pricey agenda is not the answer that Americans were looking for. We can call it a fine or a tax - it will affect hard working Americans the same way. We can no longer stand for such blatant disregard for our voices and our nation’s Constitution. I hope that Americans use this election season to put leaders in place that honor the principles of our nation and support our Constitution.
Editor's Note: Cumming Patch is not affiliated with nor endorses any political party or candidate running for public office.
If you have a campaign announcement or press release – send that information to liz.kennedy@patch.com
You've done nothing to protect the people in this state. All you've done is look to enrich yourself on the backs of the Georgia citizens.
Jack, why do you fear so much? And why do you think it's leadership to peddle fear? Where's the vision? Where's the leadership? Please quit screaming NO NO NO and come up with some solutions. The Republican vote in Congress yesterday to repeal ACA was nothing but a glorious grandstand and a waste of the money I pay in taxes. Their vote would have more credibility with me if 1) they had ANY plan whatsoever for replacing ACA; and 2) they hadn't voted down the suggestion that anyone voting against the ACA first give up their comprehensive government insurance; and 3) it didn't appear so vividly clear to me that they're merely trying to appease voters a because, God forbid they should lose their jobs and their insurance, too. (Oh wait...they have the best insurance plan in the land ...for life.) Jack, your talk is cheap. Have you ever been without medical insurance? Ever? Were your kids ever without it? I grew up without it. But don't worry; I'm white and my parents were never on welfare. I went to college and my brothers and sisters and I are productive members of society. I'm proud to say that our daughters graduated with honors from UGA. We're the very type you assume supports you. I might suggest you listen more closely to your constituents. And btw, every time one of those "deadbeats" on society who don't have insurance go to the emergency room, we're paying. All of us. Through the nose.
The AJC reported that, “Channell's bill [HB 214] does not call for an increase in state money for public health. It would shift current public health operations and their current budgets into the new department” – (http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/bill-to-create-public-893354.html). Sounds good on the surface, but where is the DECREASE in budget or personnel. Merely shifting employees and changing department names will not foster a better organizational structure or more efficiency in the system. All of the State Senators who voted against this bill, to a man, were Republicans. Perhaps they realized that rather than cutting waste and cost, and promoting efficiency, all HB 214 really did was create a new, more centralized, unelected and unaccountable body that is farther away and therefore less connected to the people it purports to serve.