Only in Texas--Molly Ivins woulda been "proud"

I remember a story Ivins wrote in the Texas Observer years ago in which she related being at a BBQ of Democrats in Indiana, listening to them complain about how awful the Indiana legislature and how surely it was the worst legislature in the country & she took a certain peverse umbrage at the idea that some other legislature could be #1 worst, since, after all, Texas is always #1...

Gawd.  Pray for Texas (if you believe in that sort of thing...)

Houston lawmaker asks: 'What's Medicaid?'
Saturday, March 21, 2009
 
Houston lawmaker asks: 'What's Medicaid?'
Give state Rep. Gary Elkins some credit for being honest.

 
At a hearing Thursday of the House Committee on Human Services, Elkins and other members of the panel considered more than two dozen bills related to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Three hours into the hearing, Elkins asked: "What's Medicaid?"

The Houston Republican continued: "I know I hear it — I really don't know what it is. I know that's a big shock to everybody here in the audience, OK."

He could have kept quiet. He could have asked an aide. He could have Googled it. Instead, he asked the question into the microphone in the middle of a public hearing.

Medicaid, for the record, is the federal-state health insurance program for low-income people and people with disabilities. Elkins is new to the Human Services Committee. However, he's served in the House since 1995, where one of the main tasks is crafting the state budget.

A quarter of the state budget is Medicaid.

— Corrie MacLaggan

 
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