Gov. Rick Perry says he hopes to use the platform of the Republican Governors Association to press his case against the federal government. Perry is expected to be elected chairman of the group next week when the RGA meets in San Diego. During a book-signing of his states-rights manifesto, Fed Up, in Round Rock on Thursday night ( a couple of young autograph seekers pictured at right), Perry said he would invite Democratic governors to join him in the pressing states rights. "I can't believe a Democratic governor would want Washington D.C. telling them how to run their staets any more than a Republican governor would," he said. "Particularly if we can save dollars and show the federal government how we can deliver different services better, efficiently and cheaply." One of Perry's ideas is for Texas to opt-out of the federal Medicaid program. Currently, Texas spends $20 billion annually to provide Medicaid health care to poor children, pregnant women, disabled adults and nursing home residents. If it left the program, the state would lose 60 percent - or $12 billion - in federal matching money. Texas has the highest rate of uninsured residents in the nation. He says the state could handle care for the poor and the elderly without federal intervention - and without the billions in federal money the state now gets. Asked if he has a plan for exactly how that would work in Texas, Perry said, "Not yet. Discussions are going on."
Source: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/11/perry-says-he-wants-democratic.html
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