We now know what would it take for a determined group of knee-jerk Pennsylvania legislators to reject a $3 billion a year shot into the state’s economy, one that creates 35,000 to 40,000 jobs while netting the state budget some $255 million a year and bringing potentially life-saving services to more than 400,000 vulnerable Pennsylvanians.

All it takes is the fingerprints of one man: President Obama.

Because the above benefits to Pennsylvania would come from the health care reform pushed through Congress in 2010 by President Obama, the conservative-dominated state House refuses to expand the Medicaid program to include the working poor.

The House refused, even though the feds will pay 100 percent of the cost for three years and at least 90 percent of the cost thereafter.

The House refused even though Pennsylvania hospitals are pleading with the state to expand Medicaid, because it will help them withstand drastic cuts in federal payments for charity hospital care, cuts that are required by the federal health care reform.

The House refused even though the Senate crafted a bipartisan Medicaid expansion that Gov. Corbett signaled he might accept, since it included many of the special features he wants the federal government to allow if he is going to let Pennsylvania join the program.

The House’s refusal hasn’t killed Medicaid expansion outright, but the initiative is on life support. Resuscitating it will take heavy lobbying by hospitals, health care groups and affected constituents, continuing bipartisan pressure from the Senate, hints of approval from Gov. Corbett, and a return to sanity among at least a handful of House Republicans.

Otherwise, Pennsylvania will sit by and watch as our residents’ federal tax dollars go to help pay for Medicaid expansion in other states. Pennsylvanians will help make a tiny dent in the federal deficit, while driving up our state’s own cost of government. (That’s because the feds’ expanded Medicaid payments will cover some health care costs now paid by state-funded programs.)

This is a case of anti-government, anti-Obama ideology working against something that boosts the state’s economy, helps the state’s budget, and improves the health of our fellow Pennsylvanians who struggle to make ends meet.

It’s an ideology that renders its sufferers impervious to reasoning about working together for the common good. Unfortunately, thanks to gerrymandered districts, closed primaries, unlimited campaign contributions from special interests, and the taxpayer-funded advantages of incumbency, there does not seem to be a ready antidote.

Vote in our PennLive poll on this issue here.