Health Care Reform in Texas

The author of “For better health, pay Perry no mind” is targeting the politically active citizens of Texas in an effort to reach the state legislature. Although he or she seems to have done their fair share of research, there is no mention of the authors name, occupation, or political experience in this editorial leading to no inherent trust in this opinion written.  The author bases his argument on logos; relying on numbers to forward his case that the state of Texas should cooperate with the national government in health insurance reform.  He notes the six million uninsured Texans and the opportunity to insure 2.3 million low-income Texans by 2023 if Medicaid is expanded.  While the numbers do not lie and there is clearly a health care issue in the state, the author underestimates the costs this reform would place on the government and in turn the citizens of Texas.  He supplies the number of a $15.6 billion burden on the government of Texas; quite a large burden considering the state government’s current budget issues and unwillingness to further tax it’s citizens. The author is correct in suggesting a need for change in the health care system of Texas, but I believe the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is not the method of change this state needs and I support Rick Perry’s decision not to expand Medicaid or set up a health insurance exchange without first securing its financing.