Show me the math
Dear Editor,
In your Feb 24 Editorial, you quoted Nelson's office:
"The president's plan essentially extends the Nebraska provision to all states by 'providing significant additional federal financing to all states for the expansion of Medicaid.' This will greatly reduce the unfunded mandate on state budgets."
I understand that the State budget doesn't (yet) include funds for the expansion of Medicaid. But, where does the Federal government get this "financing"? Theoretically, it would come from Federal income taxes, would it not? Show me the math. Whether it is a line item of the state budget, or the federal budget, ultimately it must be funded by the taxpayers.
Therefore, the explanation of "federal financing" would seem to solve nothing, and that should be no comfort to taxpayers. It's still going to cost taxpayers more -- either through higher state taxes, or through higher federal taxes. And, higher taxes means less disposable income.
Vic Larson
Eustis