The Poverty Of Ideology

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's refusal to accept federal health care funding because it comes as Obamacare dollars is about to cost the state a fortune. Not to mention disrupting the lives of thousands of low-income Wisconsin residents whose lives are tough enough already.

The Capital Times explains that even some GOP legislators and establishment medical professionals want Walker to change his mind - - for good reason, says the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau:

According to a Feb. 15 Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo, accepting the federal money would save the state more than $100 million in the 2013-2015 budget and nearly $550 million in general purpose revenue through 2020.

But changing his mind? And conceding that there's something of merit out of the Obama administration?

That's not how an ideologue with his eye on the 2016 GOP presidential nomination and his hand in far-right campaign treasuries makes decisions.

Noted previously:

It appears I was on the right track last week when suggesting here that when Gov. Walker dealt with a looming deadline about Medicaid expansion it would be first as a way to separate from Obama-Who-Can-Never-Be-Give-Any-Credit, and then secondarily, after the strategic and political considerations, as a substantive policy issue:

An editorial in the La Crosse Tribune explains all the policy and people reasons why Gov. Walker should take additional federal funding available under Obamacare to expand Medicaid in Wisconsin.

Problem is, this is Scott Walker we're talking about - - a 100% partisan and strategy obsessive who will see the decision as he did with the federally-funded Amtrak expansion: a self-interested method of dissing public services and distancing himself from President Obama. 

In other words, as a political opportunity to cozy up to the right fringe that listens to talk radio, votes in primaries and likes its party tea as strong as possible.