"Joy and pleasure are as real as pain and sorrow and one must learn what they have to teach. . . ." -- Sean Russell, from Gatherer of Clouds

"If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right." -- Helyn D. Goldenberg

"I love you and I'm not afraid." -- Evanescence, "My Last Breath"

“If I hear ‘not allowed’ much oftener,” said Sam, “I’m going to get angry.” -- J.R.R. Tolkien, from Lord of the Rings

Saturday, April 02, 2011

Bipartisanship Works!

In Illinois, at least. Of course, we don't have much patience with teabaggers here. The State of Illinois has just passed a Medicare reform bill -- with real bipartisan support(not the kind you find in Washington) -- that actually looks like it will work:



From Crooks and Liars:

Lots of states are having a hard time with Medicaid. In states with Republican Governors, like oh, for instance, Arizona? The "answer" is to cut people from the rolls without regard to long-term impact on the health and welfare of their citizens. 

Here in Illinois we did something a little different. We re-elected (in a very close race) our admittedly lackluster, but hard-working Governor, Pat Quinn. Quinn and the Democratic-led legislature put together a bi-partisan committee to reform Medicaid in Illinois, and the Bill was signed into law at the end of January. Medicaid recipients were informed by mail of the changes with their April Medicaid cards.


I don't really care that Pat Quinn is "lackluster" -- he's capable, intelligent, and (gasp!) liberal. And this is what happens when you have a governor like that: the bill will save money and provide better results.

(Note: Heather Steans, who was one of the prime movers on this, is my senator.)

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