April 3, 2014 – Page 2 of 2

Thanks to Obamacare, Uninsured is Cut by 40% in Mitch McConnell’s State

Mitch McConnell could thank Obama for making his state more healthy. He could thank Obama, but he won’t. He’s more concerned with trying to deny Obama a second term. Oh wait a minute…

Obamacare has cut Kentucky’s uninsured population by more than 40 percent, signing up roughly 360,000 residents since enrollment opened up on Oct. 1, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Some 75 percent of them — 270,000 — were previously uninsured. That means Kentucky’s uninsured population of 640,000 has come down by 42 percent.

The enrollment figures, which state officials relayed to the Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader, underscore the relative success of Kentucky’s state-based Obamacare exchange compared to other states and, in some ways, the HealthCare.gov federal marketplace portal.

Like the federal government, Kentucky has decided to give people who began their applications until April 15 to sign up for insurance on the exchanges. State officials told the Herald-Leader that those who are eligible for Medicaid can sign up after the March 31 deadline

Mayor Rob Ford Votes Against Nelson Mandela and Olympic Athletes

What could be controversial about the city of Toronto congratulating Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes?

Ask Rob Ford. The Toronto mayor on Wednesday cast the sole ‘no’ vote on a City Council motion to offer the athletes kudos. Minutes earlier, he also was the only council member to vote against a proposal to name a Toronto street after the late Nelson Mandela.

Ford asked for a re-vote on both motions a half-hour later but was denied.

‘We all make errors,’ said Ford, who claimed he was stretching a sore back and voted quickly. ‘I guess I pushed the wrong button. Of course I support Nelson Mandela.’

The mayor also said he supports Olympic athletes.

Ford is seeking re-election this year despite a record of erratic behavior. After he acknowledged last year that he had smoked crack, the City Council voted to strip him of most of his mayoral powers.

Ford is known for often casting the lone dissenting vote, but his votes on Wednesday drew gasps in the council chamber. City councilor Adam Vaughn said Ford knew exactly what he was doing.