Fallin Takes Health care Grant While Suing Feds for Health Care

So... Fallin is taking money from the federal government - which she pledge to fight as Governor - for health care - which she opposes - while suing the federal government for "unfair federal mandates" put in place by the HCR bill.  

Ala NewsOK:

Oklahoma will accept a $54.6 million federal grant to develop the information technology infrastructure to operate a health exchange even though the state has filed a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s health care law which authorized it, Gov. Mary Fallin said Friday. 

Fallin decided to accept the money after she worked with state agencies to ensure no unworkable federal mandates were included, according to a statement from the governor’s office. 

“After thoroughly reviewing the ‘early innovator’ grant, I am happy to say that the federal assistance we are being offered is consistent with our mission to design and implement an Oklahoma-based health insurance exchange,” Fallin said.

Just a reminder about what Mary said July 2009:

Let me refresh you "Mr. Speaker... I can only see major tax increases on families and businesses..."

Oh what a difference an election makes.  This is Mary today:

“That exchange will empower consumers and help individuals and small businesses to shop for and enroll in affordable, quality health insurance plans. This is a step in the right direction for Oklahoma and its citizens.” 

Oklahoma received notice earlier this month it was awarded the grant. 

Exchanges are state-regulated plans in which small businesses and individuals are to pool money to buy health insurance. 

The exchanges would offer the same kind of purchasing power that employees of big companies already benefit from.

NewsOK says that these "exchanges are a part of the federal health care law proposed by Democratic President Barack Obama and approved last year by a Democratic Congress."

Let me refresh you what Mary says about the new federal health care law proposed by Democratic President Barack Obama and approved last year by a Democratic Congress and against by then Rep. Mary Fallin.  She makes it easy - it's right on her website

"Unfortunately, Washington appears headed in the wrong direction. The Obama administrations's plan, specifically its inclusion of a public health care option, would be ripe with unintended consequences. . . 

Ultimately, the president’s plan is going to give us less for more: reduced quality at a higher price."

And here's what her website says under "issues" and "health care"

"One thing we won’t see, however, is socialized medicine. I’ve worked in Congress to fight “Obamacare” – an expensive, government-run health care plan that will deteriorate the quality of our medical services – and I’ll continue that fight as governor."

She's going to continue to fight that as governor by accepting a massive government grant.

One thing is for certain... she's consistent in her inconsistency.  I was really starting to think I couldn't be surprised anymore...

Mary Fallin Brags about Tax Cuts While Oklahoma is Bankrupt

Stay classy Mary.  Seems this kind of reckless Washington Spending didn't stop with your Congressional days and has now made it all the way back to our great state.  Mmmm that tasty $500 million budget short fall is best served with a little tax cut for the rich on the side.

“Change is hard at times, but hopefully they’ll all be able to come to the table and work something out,” she added.

Mary Fallin ran on a campaign of hope and change in Oklahoma.  We were too fiscally responsible before.  We didn't spend enough the way the TARP bailout did!  We need to be more like Washington not less.  More bailouts for everyone!  We'll just call them "tax cuts" instead... or "business incentives."

Massive OK Budget Shortfall Triggers Tax Cuts

Nothing says “We have no money” like a good old fashioned tax cut!
Seems the great state of Oklahoma has a trigger for some income tax cuts for FY 2012.

A state board approved cutting the state’s income tax rate Tuesday after approving healthier tax collection estimates for the upcoming fiscal year.

The action reduces the state’s top individual income tax rate from 5.5 percent to 5.25. The lower rate takes effect Jan. 1.

Wow - what a genius idea!!  When we don’t have any money, and we’re cutting jobs and services by 3-5% statewide the best way to combat this $500 million short fall is to…. wait for it….. cut taxes.  This is exactly how we should solve our problems. 
Golly gee - I’m sure glad we elected someone as smart as Mary Fallin.  She sure is brilliant.

DC Mary's wasteful Washington Spending Isn't Conservative

DC Mary may actually just have the biggest balls in the world, either that or she is a complete idiot. It’s most likely the second one.

Mary has put out a new ad called “That’s Not Conservative” you can see it on her youtube page but it’s really not worth the watch, maybe just a quick down vote.

In Mary’s awfully produced ad she hits Jari on a few issues, like being a democrat and then some National level issues.

Here’s the thing Mary.

All those thing you hit Jari on regarding DC politics are actually in part YOUR FAULT!  This may shock you but being a Congresswoman means it is your job in DC to stand up for Oklahoma’s beliefs something that you have failed at over and over again.

I honestly can not understand why in the world you would think that you are better able to stand up to DC when you have no say there. This campaign is not about like you seem to think it is.  I know you are been there for a little while and have forgotten exactly how the State Government works in Oklahoma but any 5th grade civics lesson can tell you that if you failed in DC and were unable to stand up for Oklahoma there then you will be even worse when acting on the State level.

Mary Fallin you are not Oklahoma, you are not Conservative, you are part of the wasteful Washington spending you hate so much.  Look in the mirror Mary, you are the problem and we wont allow you to bring your failed politics back to Oklahoma.

Mary Fallin Just Doesn't Get It

Time and time again we’ve heard Congresswoman Mary Fallin bitch about Washington DC.  She says she’s been there and knows first hand that they are out of touch and she will fight them…… as …. Governor?  Now, either Congresswoman Fallin failed her US History class in high school or someone at the RNCC has forgotten to tell her but…. to fight Washington you have to actually be a vote in Washington.

You can’t fight Washington from the Oklahoma Governor’s office.  The only thing you do with Washington is beg for federal funding when your state is washed away in a flood or counties get taken out in a tornado.

I challenge our state news media to ask some educators some history teachers or Constitutional scholars… anyone…  Explain to me how Congresswoman Fallin thinks she can be more effective fighting Washington as a non-voting member of Congress than she would be as a voting member of Congress.

Mary Fallin is Confusing!

I mean what person with designs on managing a state budget would prefer coming into a climate of understaffed schools, especially when outside money is being offered?

"Earlier this week, the current front runner to be the chief executive of the state of Oklahoma was asked for her position on a house bill that would assist state’s in solving budget shortfalls related to school funding and health agency expenses.  Said bill would provide approximately $300MM to the state of Oklahoma that could theoretically relax the pressure to fire teachers.

Mary’s response was strange but calculated:  She opposed it, but even though it was her job to put that position on the record in the form of a vote, she was choosing not to return to Washington to do that.

Her position was pretty predictable.  Thanks to Randy Brogdon’s negative campaigning, Fallin is reeling a bit when it comes to her conservative credentials.  Despite being BFF’s with Michelle Bachmann of Minnesota, Tea Party enthusiasts still question whether Mary will do anything to be a pain in Barack Obama’s ass.

Of course, I actually read something kind of charitable into her true motives.  My assumption was that she truly wanted the money…I mean what person with designs on managing a state budget would prefer coming into a climate of understaffed schools, especially when outside money is being offered?  So, to appease Tea Partiers she stated an unequivocal disapproval, but was intentionally avoiding the vote so as not to do anything to derail it passing.

Apparently, most Tea Baggers saw it my way.  Because this morning, her spokesperson, Alex Weintz informed the media that she was canceling yesterday’s campaign events so she could return to D.C.  The reason for her course reversal involved another bill coming up related to border security which she did not want to miss.

That’s where it gets confusing.  Initially, Fallin excused her decision to play hooky by saying that her vote could not help to overcome the Democratic majority.  (More likely, she said “Democrat majority” or “liberal majority”.)   This was true.  On the other hand, the border bill she rushed back to make her voice heard on had just passed the Senate with unanimous consent.  Unanimous consent means there was no opposition.  The House was expected to pass nearly as easily, but now she considers her vote vital."