Letter to the Editor: What's best for Oklahomans
BY Dana Orwig, Oklahoma City
Sunday, January 20, 2013
1/20/13 at 7:51 AM
According to coverage in the Tulsa World ("Fallin faults federal fiscal fight in National Press Club speech," Jan. 10), Gov. Mary Fallin, in her role as vice-chair of the National Governors Association, was in Washington to express her concern about the budget-cutting decisions that are under discussion in Congress. The governor urged Congress and President Obama to treat states as "partners - not underlings."
How hypocritical of Fallin to argue for partnering with the federal government, while refusing to do so in her own state. Her decision to turn down federal money designated for increasing Medicaid coverage essentially means that the tax dollars of Oklahomans will go to help other states provide additional health care to their people, while thousands of Oklahomans will remain uninsured.
In announcing her decision to accept the federal funds for Medicaid coverage (on the same day when Fallin was lobbying for state/federal partnerships), the Republican governor of New Mexico, Susanna Martinez, said, "It comes down to what is best for New Mexicans."
I'm sure I'm not the only Oklahoman who hopes that Fallin will soon be moved by a similar desire to do what is best for the people of her state.
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