At the recent National Governors Association meeting, many of the attendees, Republican and Democrat, did not take kindly to the recent Health Care "reform" proposals being floated in the House of Representatives. The biggest fear: high Medicaid costs being passed on to the states. Concerns are rising about a large unfunded mandate at a time when revenues are declining at levels not seen before.

Gov. Phil Bredesen (D-TN) called this the "mother of all unfunded mandates," and went on to say that "Medicaid is a poor vehicle for expanding coverage." Even Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM), once a nominee for Secretary of Commerce under President Obama, exuded his concern about "$1 trillion dollar figures."

This bi-partisan concern is well founded. Obviously they see a threat looming over their balanced budgets if they have to take on the costs of expanding Medicaid. But, with Gov. Richardson's comments, I think we are seeing the beginning of a legislative slow down. Governors, Congressman, and Senators are hearing from their constituents. As recent polling has shown, the sale is getting harder by the day. Congress could jam this "reform" through. However, with the NGA meeting as evidence, it will most likely come at a price to the members that vote "YEA".