Kinder Still Using Outdated Estimates To Scare Missourians About Health Care Reform

Lt. Governor Peter Kinder posted a letter to Sen. McCaskill today on his campaign blog demanding an "explanation" for her support of health care legislation to expand access to affordable health care for Missourians.  Predictably, Kinder's letter is light on the facts:

The plan being proposed by your colleagues in the Senate could cost Missouri an additional $400 million more each year. That is money we just don't have, as you and Gov. Jay Nixon are aware...

We now know that you support the plan crafted by liberal politicians. On top of cap and trade, the takeover of America's auto manufacturers and a failed "stimulus plan," this government-funded health care plan is one more program that would hurt Missouri taxpayers, Missouri small businesses and would bankrupt our state.

This is false.

Kinder knew these numbers were wrong two months ago, but continues to use them.  As Jason Rosenbaum reported on October 20, estimates that increased Medicaid eligibility requirements would cost the state that much were based on a Senate bill that no longer exists. 

The current cost estimates for eligibility increases from the Missouri Department of Social Services – confirmed this morning -- are that the most recent Senate bill would cost the state $91 million, and the House bill as passed would cost the state $188 million.  These aren't insignificant costs, but they're not $400 million either. 

There's really no excuse for this.  Why should we believe Kinder's hysterical warnings about the health care proposals – or any other federal legislation, for that matter – when he goes out of his way to scare constituents with bad information?