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January 03, 2012 06:35 AM UTC

Is That Your Final Answer, Frank McNulty?

  • 9 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

We wanted to make sure a story in today’s Denver paper from reporter Tim Hoover got a mention–a couple of weeks ago, we were forwarded some pre-legislative session Q&A between Hoover and House Speaker Frank McNulty on the Senior Homestead Exemption. A yearly battle as the hard fiscal choices are made, Republicans seized on the Homestead Exemption as their main point of opposition to Gov. John Hickenlooper’s latest proposed budget.

Because state revenue is beginning to recover from years of decline during the recession, Gov. Hickenlooper is proposing restoring previously-forecast cuts to public education in the coming year–not restoration of the hundreds of millions cut in recent years, of course, but at least a stanch on the recent bleeding. Republicans, after voting to rescind the Homestead Exemption themselves while they were in the majority, want to take the small measure of good fortune from improving revenue and immediately cut taxes with it. It’s a classic battle.

Unfortunately for Speaker McNulty, during the recent pre-session Q&A we discussed, and as Hoover ably follows up today, he didn’t really want to debate the senior property tax break-vs. education funding question. Responding to questions about the Homestead Exemption’s often well-heeled beneficiaries, McNulty said that he would support an “asset test” for benefits “across the board.” This was a clear shot at Medicaid, a program with substantially more beneficiaries (not to mention different political constituencies) than the senior property tax break.

McNulty should have stuck to the main issue: as Hoover explains, new federal health reform doesn’t allow asset testing for Medicaid. What’s more, Colorado was recently awarded millions in federal funding for increased children’s enrollment–funds we wouldn’t have gotten if we’d had an asset test that would have saved far less. That last is reportedly based on the state’s prior experience with asset testing.

And it’s important to understand just how silly or, well, heartless this is, because the state today “asset tests” for Medicaid for adults–just not for children’s coverage.

Bottom line: McNulty doesn’t want to wage a politically unsightly battle of senior homeowners vs. either kids on Medicaid or kids in public schools. He’s going to fight for the property tax break for seniors just the way it is, with no means or asset testing of any kind, regardless of momentary chaff thrown up in a Q&A–and when that policy goal is questioned, vague diversions about stuff they can’t do is a lot easier than admitting they think a politically motivated property tax cut should come before health care and education for kids.

Perhaps most noteworthy is to see a reporter not letting him get away with it.

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9 thoughts on “Is That Your Final Answer, Frank McNulty?”

  1. federal law doesn’t allow asset testing for Medicaid.  

    …

    And it’s important to understand just how silly or, well, heartless this is, because the state already “asset tests” for Medicaid for adults–just not for children’s coverage.

    So do we have asset testing?

    1. We edited slightly to differentiate between existing law and “Obamacare.” Hoover reports that new federal health reform “bars states from adding [Pols emphasis] asset tests.” Hoover reports the state currently tests adults for assets, whiling exempting primary homes and vehicles. It’s further reported that the $26 million in additional Medicaid funds for children’s coverage recently awarded have a condition barring asset tests.

      Colorado reportedly dropped asset testing on kid’s coverage in 2006. In 2014, the state’s asset testing on adults for Medicaid will go away as well due to health care reform; it’s not considered effective. But for today, McNulty is talking about kid’s health care.

        1. ACA has helped so many families in Colorado and across the nation – POTUS and all ACA supporters should take back “Obamacare” and be proud about it.

          Kids with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied coverage, sick people can’t be kicked off insurance, young adults can stay on the parents’ plan up to age 26, insurance companies have to justify rate increases and much more. Almost all of us are better off and it should be used a big positive going into 2012 cycle, IMHO.

          Check out Colorado Consumer Health Initiative and ProgressNow Education’s new-ish “Thanks Obamacare” website for more: http://www.thanksobamacare.org/.

        2. As stated before, I’m darned proud of Obama’s Obamacare, especially considering the firestorm of opposition he and Pelosi overcame to get it through. Dems should be proud to own the moniker.

  2. If my property tax is cut in half again, it means cutting my contribution to schools in half, too. Helping out us old farts harms, in however small way, school funding (as it’s currently structured). No thanks. My wellbeing depends on a better educated Colorado far more than another $600 in my pocket. (I can be bought, but please.)

    Alms, alms, alms for the old? Sire, could you spare a ha’pence for an old but very good and faithful servant of the king?

    Now, when the economy really gets back on its feet, feel free. There are many good economic reasons for helping seniors hold onto their homes, but those reasons hold for nearly every other homeowner as well.

    McNulty: Just stop your silly political posturing, drop your membership in ALEC, govern like a sensible human being and lead your fellow Repugs in helping get the economy back on its feet. Enough shenanigans.

  3. This issue has been up and down for 25 years – it has come up on many assistance programs like care for the medically indigent and the old handicapped children’s program run by CDPHE.  It pops up and then someone actually does an analysis and it goes away for a few years.

    It doesn’t work for farmers and ranchers because they can have millions of dollars in paper assets because of the land and water rights and not have enough cash flow to rub two nickles together.

    This needs to go away again.

    1. none of this is really about saving money.  Clearly people who have to lose their homes and farms to get healthcare are going to cost a lot more than those who don’t. But the GOP is always happy to spend more in the service of their I’ve got mine, screw you ideology. Apparently they think everyone could be in the top 1% if they worked hard enough so if your not, it’s your own fault.  They all must have been sick when the whole percentage thing was covered in school.

      It’s closely related to their preference for spending three times as much on healthcare as in sane civilized countries, spending whatever it takes to keep the special tax breaks and subsidies coming for the deserving rich and corporations, many of whom got rich by putting people out of work, risking and losing other people’s savings, etc.

      Whenever they say it’s about controlling spending, they’re lying. Period.  

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