The media today is filled with charges and countercharges as to whether it is Republicans of Democrats who are hurting the poor. Each side wants to paint the other as Scrooge in the current fight that has led to a partial government shutdown. Let's look at reality.
1. Aside from Obamacare, every federal program that helps the poor would be fully funded right now if the Democrats would have accepted any of the bills that were passed by the House and sent to the Senate. On the other side, those same programs would be funded had the Republicans agreed to fund Obamacare with no modifications.
2. After the dispute led to the partial shutdown, the Republicans passed bills that would have kept the funds to the poverty programs flowing, but here too the Democrats rejected that plan. Harry Reid made clear that he would never agree to funding for just parts of the government absent agreement on the whole thing. Clearly, Reid was more interested in the political victory than in helping the poor.
3. Obamacare really does not help the poor. Remember that those who are poor already have medical coverage through Medicaid and other programs. Those below the poverty line do not even get subsidies from the federal government under Obamacare; they remain covered by Medicaid. What this means is that the Democrats are willing to let all the other programs that help the poor be interrupted to preserve Obamacare which really does not help the poor. The Democrats are holding the nation's safety net hostage to implementation of Obamacare in their way.
1. Aside from Obamacare, every federal program that helps the poor would be fully funded right now if the Democrats would have accepted any of the bills that were passed by the House and sent to the Senate. On the other side, those same programs would be funded had the Republicans agreed to fund Obamacare with no modifications.
2. After the dispute led to the partial shutdown, the Republicans passed bills that would have kept the funds to the poverty programs flowing, but here too the Democrats rejected that plan. Harry Reid made clear that he would never agree to funding for just parts of the government absent agreement on the whole thing. Clearly, Reid was more interested in the political victory than in helping the poor.
3. Obamacare really does not help the poor. Remember that those who are poor already have medical coverage through Medicaid and other programs. Those below the poverty line do not even get subsidies from the federal government under Obamacare; they remain covered by Medicaid. What this means is that the Democrats are willing to let all the other programs that help the poor be interrupted to preserve Obamacare which really does not help the poor. The Democrats are holding the nation's safety net hostage to implementation of Obamacare in their way.
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