Wagle's guest editorial is more Republican lies!

By SJ Otto

Every now and then I read a guest commentary from elected officials, in The Wichita Eagle. Since I live in Kansas, most of the officials, whose commentary appear in The Wichita Eagle, are commentary written by conservative Republicans. I guess The Wichita Eagle considers such elected officials of having enough importance that their opinions automatically merit printing in the editorial page. Quite often, their views (that of conservative Republicans) are right-wing, biased and often full of lies.

The majority of Kansans seem stuck to conservative views and the electing of Republicans. This is why we had to endure Kansas State Senator Susan Wagle, and her explanation of her sabotage of the Medicaid expansion bill. There was bi-partisan support for that bill. Many of us want it passed and it is badly needed by many people.

Wagle is using Medicaid expansion as a leverage to get her anti-abortion amendment passed. She wants to put her amendment on the ballot that would let Kansans vote on whether they can vote to ban abortions. Wagle makes the claim that Medicaid can be used to fund abortions without making changes to the Kansas constitution.

As I mentioned earlier, Republicans play fast with the truth”

“Our state Supreme Court overreached last year when its ruling on Hodes & Nauser v. Schmidt opened the door to strike down every reasonable abortion restriction in Kansas. The Value Them Both Amendment was the people’s opportunity to respond and continue to allow elected officials to do their jobs.

As a champion of many of Kansas’ abortion restrictions, including the ban on dismemberment abortion, parental consent, and the Women’s Right to Know Act, I needed to act. Elected representatives approved these laws and now a court decision could bring about their demise. Many of the 15 pieces of legislation passed were, in fact, passed with a pro-choice majority. They are reasonable regulations approved by Kansans.”

Most of these restrictions on abortion have been deliberate attempts to chip away at abortion rights. No pro-choice person will support these restrictions because they know the anti-abortion law makers, as herself, will only be satisfied when abortion is completely illegal. That is her goal and the goal of almost all Republicans.

On Medicaid expansion Wagle wrote:

Meanwhile, we have Medicaid expansion waiting in the wings, already moving through the legislative process. So, let’s put aside the fact that Medicaid expansion is simply the latest attempt to bring government-run, socialized medicine into our communities. Let’s put aside the fact that Medicaid is already a broken system with waiting lists and few provider options. Let’s even put aside the explosion of costs on middle class Kansans’ premiums. As a result of the court’s ruling, Governor Kelly’s Medicaid expansion plan would open Pandora’s box to state-funded abortions right here in Kansas.

It is interesting that she admits it is “a broken system with waiting lists and few provider options.” That is the system that our last governor Sam Brownback set up as KanCare. It is a privatized mess that was put together with the idea that privatization will fix everything. I’m glad to see that Wagle recognizes that it has not been a success. However she accuses Medicaid of being “government-run, socialized medicine.” For her and most Republicans “socialized medicine” is evil. Her opposition to Medicaid expansion is almost a superstition. Even though the expansion would save thousands of people’s lives and prevent them from dying from curable diseases. Just because it is “socialized medicine” Wagle opposes it.

She also lies about an explosion of “middle class Kansans’ premiums.” That excuse is common for Republicans who want to prevent any kind of socialized medicine.

The biggest lie of all is that it would “open Pandora’s box to state-funded abortions.”

The reality is that the 1977 Hyde Amendment, currently forbids the use of federal funds for abortions except in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest, and it has guided public funding for abortions under the joint federal-state Medicaid programs for low-income women. So the possibility of using Medicaid money for abortions is nearly non-existent. Wagle is full of shit and she is a liar. Wagle has lied in her The Wichita Eagle article. She also uses plenty of quotes from the late Former president Ronald Reagan. That  may impress her right-wing Republican friends, but it does not impress me or many of the people I know here in Kansas. Reagan was a con man and he pushed this country to the far-right. Some of us don't appreciate that.

No, Wagle does not support helping the elderly nor poor.