Another Milepost On The Road To Oblivion

Poor people are such a drain on state resources.  Better to let nature take care of it.  That's GOP fiscal responsibility.

The S.C. Senate must deal this week or next with a new round of House cuts aimed primarily at health care, which would eliminate breast cancer screenings for 16,000 poor S.C. women and limit poor patients to three prescription drugs a month.


It’s the House’s way of dealing with a $21 million shortfall in court and public safety funds it does not want to cover with increased fees and fines.

But $50 million in health care cuts, which some critics say has become the favorite target of Republican lawmakers, isn’t a silver bullet, either, health care advocates say. Costs ignored on the front end typically have greater costs down the line. If people are not getting HIV drugs or cancer screenings, then people could die, the advocates say.

Dead poor people don't take up hospital beds, don't need preventative care, don't need screenings, don't need prescription drugs.  That's how Republicans save money.  But why target adults?  You know what group doesn't pay taxes and is a net drain on state funds?  Kids!

One of the biggest impacts of the House-proposed budget cuts could be on children’s medical services

As of July 1, the budget would impose a cap on new enrollments of children into Medicaid, if their parents earn more than 150 percent of the poverty level.

That move would save the state about $1.7 million, but also would cause more kids to get off to a bad start, expert say.

“By capping it at 150 percent, it really does hinder a child’s development,” said Susan Williams, chief executive officer of The Children’s Trust of South Carolina. “You don’t get a second chance (at the formative years).”

Right now, 5,000 children a month in the Palmetto State enroll in Medicaid, according to the Trust, but 120,000 children in the state are eligible for the coverage, by virtue of the required criteria.

I've got your death panels right here, South Carolina.  And it's called "defunding health care programs."   Gotta makes sacrifices to fix that budget, you know...

Besides.  They're just poor people.  They don't count as people anyway, amirite?