Though some may accuse me of hammering all the time, I’m fully capable of giving credit where credit is due.  On these pages and repeatedly on the radio, I’ve thanked Governor Bredesen for delivering an honest, non-partisan assessment of the current health care legislation and what it will cost the state of Tennessee.  Governor Bredesen is no Jim DeMint calling for free-market solutions, but he has been honest about the numbers.

I’m not qualified or knowledgeable regarding the special rules regarding Medicaid (TennCare).  In following TennCare over the years, I am loosely aware of the funding formula for our program as regards state and federal matching dollars.  I’ve watched as Governor Bredesen renegotiated terms.  But the Nelson “perk” strikes me as inherently wrong. In the spirit of Animal Farm, it will be codified that one state is more equal than others.

What we’re talking about is a windfall for Nebraska not based on their system or any formula but essentially based on their Senator’s much needed vote for passage.

Surely there are constitutional issues at play.  Surely there are some legal questions when Tennessee has been back and forth and back and forth with” we can do this” or “can’t do that” because of the funding rules.  Now for no other reason than Nelson wants Medicaid dollars (as if it’s some bridge to nowhere-pork-project) the terms of our agreement in Tennessee are still in full effect but Nelson’s state gets out?  Funding based on what state you’re from and not what actions you’re taking?  Funding that will deprive Tennesseans of taxdollars as part of a corrupt contractual process?

Where are our two Tennessee Senators?  I’d ask the gentle Senior Senator from Tennessee if he feels like Senator Nelson is being a statesmen?  Is Reid a statesman?

Maybe I’m wrong.  Maybe there’s no legal problem, no contractual issues at stake.  But I see an opportunity for Governor Bredesen and Lt. Governor Ramsey to defend us or at least explore the legal aspects.  I know Governor Bredesen is fluent in this area.

Word is now emerging that several other Senators might have worked the same “perk” as the Nelson perk, and if so, maybe a several other states ought to explore unplugging from the federal system and designing a system of  their own.  Or maybe some states go back to individual charity.  Or maybe some states offer taxpayer funded taxi service for those with health care needs to travel to states with these rich Medicaid funds.  I’m just thinking out loud here.

If you ask me, we’ve been a long time coming to where we are today.  Our legislators and Governors of past of all political stripes have been looking to D.C. as a pot of gold.  Even Sen. Lamar Alexander has stated in newsprint that the perks of leadership mean bringing more stuff home for the constituents.

But what our legislators and Governors felt was a windfall was really enslavement.  Classic dependency.  Not only are millions of men and women in America working on what Star Parker calls Uncle Sam’s Plantation, but so are our state governments. Without their so-called benevolence, we cease to exist.  At that point, are we really a state at all?