Opponents Reaffirm Support for Blunt's Health Care Cuts

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- At the Republican State Convention on Saturday, Congressman Hulshof strongly reaffirmed his support for Gov. Blunt's massive 2005 health care cuts, and even used it to generate applause and cheers from the crowd.  Treasurer Steelman has also made it clear in recent weeks that she supports Blunt's health care cuts.

In response to Congressman Hulshof and Treasurer Steelman's comments in support of the health care cuts, Attorney General Jay Nixon released the following statement:

"When Matt Blunt slashed health care from hundreds of thousands of Missourians, he created a health care crisis in our state.  Now, more than 750,000 Missourians don't have health insurance, and premiums are skyrocketing for Missourians fortunate enough to still have coverage.  In the process, Gov. Blunt has turned away more than $1 billion in federal health care dollars -- tax dollars that Missourians already send to Washington but that never come back to Missouri.  Our health care system is broken, but instead of offering solutions to fix it, my opponents have embraced Matt Blunt's massive cuts. 

"Over the course of this campaign, my opponents and I will disagree on a variety of issues.  But Gov. Blunt's health care cuts and the future of our state's health care system may present the clearest contrast.  

"While my opponents support Gov. Blunt's health care cuts, I strongly oppose them.  While my opponents want to continue with Gov. Blunt's failed health care policies, I believe we need new, fresh ideas on health care.  While my opponents seem perfectly content that 125,000 kids in our state don't have health coverage, I believe we need to make sure these kids receive the health care they need.  And while my opponents have no objection to recklessly allowing more than a $1 billion in federal health care dollars to go to other states, I know we need that money right here in Missouri.

"As Governor, it will be my priority to make sure every single Missourian who had their health care slashed has the coverage they need again.  We simply cannot stay the course with the same failed health care policies."

On Sunday, the Post-Dispatch reported that "Hulshof and Gov. Matt Blunt, who is not seeking re-election, led the attacks by blasting Nixon's campaign pledge to restore the Medicaid cuts approved by Blunt and the Legislature in 2005." [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6/1/2008] 

Several weeks ago, the Cook Political Report reported that: "Steelman has said that she supports the Governor's Medicaid cuts." [Cook Political Report, 3/4/2008]

The 2005 cuts have left hundreds of thousands of Missouri families without health care they need and caused premiums to skyrocket for those fortunate enough to still have health insurance.  More than 70,000 Missouri children who had health care through Medicaid or S-CHIP the day Gov. Blunt took office do not have it today. 

For more facts on the impacts of Gov. Blunt's health care cuts, click here: http://www.jaynixon.com/issues/crisis/BluntCutsFactSheet.pdf