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Hello,
I learned in Sunday school that you can often do good for yourself when you do good for someone else. It’s a pretty simple idea, but it’s a concept The Governor cannot seem to grasp. And that’s a big problem because it applies very clearly to our current situation in regards to Medicaid expansion.
Pennsylvania has the opportunity to accept $4 billion annually in federal funds to expand Medicaid and offer health insurance to 500,000 low-income individuals. The expansion would apply mostly to people who work full-time but do not have health-care coverage. It’s clearly a good thing for these folks, who are working hard but unable to get coverage through their employers or afford insurance on their own.
However, expanding Medicaid is also a good thing for the rest of the citizens of Pennsylvania. Here is why: Medicaid expansion could be used to help fund our public schools. How? The new federal money would generate more than $180 million in state budget savings in less than a year’s time. A portion of those funds could be directed to fund public education, including the Philadelphia School District which is dealing with major financial problems.
It would also create between 35,000 and 40,000 jobs in health-care related fields to help put unemployed folks back to work. We can do good for ourselves by doing good for someone else.
Yesterday, I made a speech on the Senate floor about this point. Please take a moment and view it. If you agree with my message, please share it with you friends, family, and colleagues. We must move forward on Medicaid expansion.
Thank you,
Senator Vincent Hughes
PS:
I've also included four short videos of uninsured folks who had the courage to come to Harrisburg and speak out for Medicaid expansion.
Learn more on the Medicaid Expansion and provide your feedback on my website at senatorhughes.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter (@SenatorHughes).
Offices of State
Senator Vincent Hughes
www.senatorhughes.com |
