Illinois lawmakers hid ObamaCare-related Medicaid spending

If you’re not already disgusted by the budget implementation bill that passed today (shrubbery, Amtrak, grant unaccountability), try this on for size. The General Assembly hid ObamaCare-related Medicaid spending so that it doesn’t show up in the General Revenue Fund budget. A budget amendment hides “all federal matching funds” received to pay Medicaid costs for “individuals eligible for medical...

If you’re not already disgusted by the budget implementation bill that passed today (shrubbery, Amtrak, grant unaccountability), try this on for size.

The General Assembly hid ObamaCare-related Medicaid spending so that it doesn’t show up in the General Revenue Fund budget. A budget amendment hides “all federal matching funds” received to pay Medicaid costs for “individuals eligible for medical assistance pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” in the Healthcare Provider Relief Fund. Here’s what the amendment would remove from the general funds budget:

Why would lawmakers want to do this? It lets them spend money on ObamaCare without it showing up in the General Revenue Fund budget. This helps perpetuate the “no cost to Illinois” myth that Medicaid expansion proponents love to use as they urge implementation. And, worse yet, it keeps taxpayers in the dark by hiding the spending in special funds that aren’t part of budget discussions over the general funds.