Bill OrrUncategorized

So the Christie administration let pass a deadline Thursday on spending the much need $7.6 million in federal funds to help launch our health exchange under the Affordable Care Act. The money is in our Treasury. It would help guide many more people through the complicated Medicaid and health exchange enrollment process. NJPP, Star Ledger, at least three U. S. Representatives, State legislators, and a host of other consumer, health, legal, and social service advocates have been urging for months that he spend the monies. The 2014 enrollment deadline is March 31.

What is even more infuriating is his complete failure to explain his refusal. What does he do when so many groups urge him to take an action? He ignore them. Is it his superiority complex that in many cases leads him to ignore what others advocate, do as he wishes, and fail to provide an explanation or excuse?

Of course, he is busy these days helping the RGA and promoting his own presidential candidacy, but this has been his approach all along. It takes a reporter to corner him, ask him the question, and even then he may obfuscate or mislead.

According to NJ BIZ, “Insurance Commissioner Ken Kobylowski made public a letter he sent Wednesday to the federal Department of Health and Human Services, seeking permission to create new uses for the $7.6 million.” Maybe Christie could spare a few minutes to explain why he will not use the money for its intended purpose?

So it boils down to a callous disregard for the electorate, a failure of transparency, an evasive arch-conservative action on something he wants to hide, and a major attitude problem. Take your choice, but that’s infuriating.