Pawlenty asks for enhanced Medicaid funding

Minneapolis Star Tribune: "Gov. Tim Pawlenty wrote U.S. DHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Tuesday to ask for cash. The letter, in which Pawlenty requested Medicaid and foster care cash, the governor also bashed the federal health care overhaul." He "told the secretary that his order was fueled by concern about 'overspending' and 'unbearable burdens that spending will place on our economy.' Despite that 'concern,' Pawlenty said Minnesota would accept the federal cash from another bit of legislation -- the extension of the stimulus act. The governor, who has also trashed the stimulus act, said the money reflects, 'current and longstanding Minnesota policy objectives'" (Stassen-Berger, 9/7).

Minnesota Public Radio: "Gov. Tim Pawlenty today asked U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for about $260 million in federal funding for Medicaid and foster care. If you're confused about the governor's stand on federal funding you're forgiven, because it's complicated. Last week Pawlenty issued an executive order to state agencies telling them to avoid applying for discretionary funding under the federal health care law which he referred to as 'Obamacare.' The pot of money he asked for today came from a different law designed to help states during the economic crisis. Pawlenty had originally counted on this money in the budget plan he proposed to lawmakers early this year" (Mulcahy, 9/7).

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This article was reprinted from khn.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.