Arizona Governor Jan Brewer Defends ObamaCare From GOP Allies
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, is defending ObamaCare in the midst of her right-wing allies in the GOP. Jan Brewer became a conservative favorite for her stance on immigration, but now she is taking attacks from her right-wing allies over her decision to expand Arizona’s Medicaid program under President Barack Obama’s health care law.
Last week during Arizona Governor Jan Brewer’s State of the State address, Brewer argued that Arizona shouldn’t refuse the generosity that comes with the Medicaid expansion under ObamaCare. Arizona already has a broader Medicaid program than most, and they shouldn’t have to support Medicaid expansions in other states with their federal taxes if they don’t see the benefits.
According to the Huffington Post, National Review’s editors described Arizona Governor Jan Brewer’s move as such:
“Governor Brewer, exemplifying that unfortunately common strain of Republican leadership that is uncompromising in rhetoric but opportunistic in reality, has decided to sign off on the federal government’s plan to radically expand Medicaid eligibility.”
According to Forbes, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer said in a statement:
“By slightly expanding eligibility for Arizona’s Medicaid program. Arizona will receive $7.9 billion in federal funds over four years … This money will not only insure hundreds of thousands of low-income Arizonans, it will be an economic boon and help maintain the viability of rural and safety-net hospitals feeling the pinch from growing costs of uncompensated care.”
After speaking with #doctors in Yuma, I continue to believe Medicaid expansion is the right thing to do for #Arizona. twitter.com/GovBrewer/stat…
— Jan Brewer (@GovBrewer) January 24, 2013
This marks quite a turnaround since last summer, when Brewer seemed horrified at the Supreme Court decision affirming the health care reform law. In a report by The Inquisitr, she accidentally endorsed President Obama for re-election:
“I know that if President Obama is elected in November, which I hope that he is, that he will be able to come together with all of us and come up with a solution and I believe he will secure our borders and therefore we can resolve all those other issues, it’s a simple matter.”
This is quite a twist after, as previously reported by The Inquisitr, she heatedly confronted President Barack Obama at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer stated previously in regards to the health reform law:
“For defenders of freedom and the free market, the decision to uphold ObamaCare is nothing short of disheartening. The ramifications are sure to be vast, including a new tax on middle class Americans and the erosion of individual liberty as Americans begin to see their health insurance choices dictated by an overbearing federal government.”
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer seems full of surprises. So what sparked her decision to accept ObamaCare and defend it from her right-wing allies in the GOP?
