Once again, we have Republicans in this country putting their own political interests over the needs of their constituents. This time, it’s in the implementation of the Medicaid expansion in the Affordable Care Act, a measure that would extend coverage to millions currently without quality health care. This would also cut costs states currently face from emergency room visits by the uninsured. However, at least six Republican governors have vowed to reject the funding. It seems they’d rather boost their poll ratings than make sure sick citizens of their state can have access to health care.

NOT representing your poorest constituents is particularly appalling because these are the people not only with the greatest health care needs but who lack access to power and channels to make their voices heard.

Texas Governor Rick Perry has said Medicaid represents “brazen intrusions the sovereignty of our state” and would “threaten even Texas with financial ruin.” Since Washington is actually footing the bill on this for the next three years his statements seem intimate a distant relationship to the truth. With the highest rate of uninsured people in the country, nearly 6 million people, Texans deserve better from their governor. At the bare minimum they deserve to be told the real reason many will have to die in service to the Governor’s political agenda.