Well, Governor, you asked for it. That may be the reaction in the White House when and if Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland calls to complain about the gigantic burden being dumped on the Buckeye State by the new national health care law.
Strickland was an enthusiastic supporter of President Barack Obama's plan. Apparently he paid no need to critics who pointed out "ObamaCare" would force states to spend much, much more on their Medicaid programs.
But Strickland has the numbers, now. According to his administration's projections, the new Medicaid requirements will cost Ohio taxpayers $1.45 billion during a five-year period. Frankly, we will be surprised if the total is not substantially higher than that.
Medicaid already has a problem for most states, which struggle to meet their required matches for federal program funding. As state Sen. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark, pointed out, the program is "already bringing us underwater today."
In fact, Ohioans already are drowning in a fiscal sense. Revenue is expected to lag behind projected spending for the next two-year budget by $8 billion.
To that, increased spending for Medicaid now must be added.
And, we would add, Buckeye State residents will be in no mood to pony up higher taxes for state government, once they learn many of them and the businesses for which they work will be paying more for health care under the Obama plan.
Incredibly, the Strickland administration's reaction to the Medicaid cost news was that it was a good thing. Strickland spokeswoman Amanda Wurst told The Columbus Dispatch the federal government will be providing $16.9 billion in additional Medicaid help to Ohio during the six-year period starting in 2013. "So the state is getting a bargain," Wurst opined.
The federal government always has paid a share of states' Medicaid expenses. And regardless of how much Washington kicks in, Ohio taxpayers somehow will have to find that additional $1.45 billion out of their own pockets.
Governors are supposed to look out for the best interests of their states and the people who live in them. By his support of "ObamaCare," Strickland signaled that supporting the ultra-liberal agenda in Washington is a priority for him.