Maine Gov. Paul LePage, who is insane, is so virulently opposed to Medicaid expansion in his state that he's vetoed the legislature’s attempts to do it six times.
So does it count as a bit awkward when it comes to light that he doesn't actually know what it would do? It's not really a good thing when your state's sitting governor is getting patiently schooled on the basics of the current coverage gap on live radio.
“I make too little money to be on Obamacare. It’s expected that if you go to Obamacare that you’re goign to make a certain amount of money so you can afford the premiums. But if you make $11,500 a year…” said Laura
“Then you qualify for medicaid,” interrupted LePage.
The conversation continued with the caller explaining that she has applied several times and has helped others attempt to apply in her role as a social worker, but that she falls into the coverage gap that would be solved by accepting federal funding.
“That’s not true,” LePage continued to repeat.
Except it is true, and tens of thousands of Maine residents are in the same boat. Gov. Paul LePage apparently still does not know that.
His administration later released a statement clarifying the governor's remarks, i.e. admitting that LePage was wrong. But it's still not clear whether anyone has been able to explain that to LePage himself, or if he's going to simply continue to claim that the people who can't get coverage now can too get coverage so shut up.
LePage's spent a goodly chunk of his time in office railing against this expansion, which is saying something considering how much of his time is spent railing against other things that also take a good deal of his sweaty attention. But he doesn't know even the most basic effects of the thing he's fighting against? Really? Really?
Oh, who are we kidding. That sounds about right.