Louisiana will get an extra $560 million or more in 2013
Is there a thaw developing in the tense relations between Gov. Bobby Jindal and Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.? Perhaps.
Louisiana Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce GreensteinLast week, Jindal's Department of Health and Hospitals secretary, Bruce Greenstein, praised Landrieu and President Barack Obama's Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for agreeing to a Medicaid formula that means an extra $560 million or more for Louisiana in 2013. The ruling was made possible by language Landrieu added to the president's 2010 health care overhaul legislation.
Her legislative move brought harsh criticism of Landrieu by conservative talk show hosts Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, who suggested her vote for the controversial health bill had been bought. Landrieu, who said she was simply trying to help her state and others facing unfair Medicaid reimbursement rules related to temporary increase in wages from a major disaster, had hoped Republican Jindal would defend her, given the benefits to Louisiana. But he remained mostly silent.
Jindal also didn't praise Landrieu when she helped persuade FEMA earlier this month to provide the state with an extra $390 million in hazard mitigation financing from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Meanwhile, Landrieu criticized Jindal for his administration's failure to land a lucrative broadband funding mechanism for rural Louisiana communities.
Asked whether she expected a thank you note from Jindal for the extra Medicaid funding, Landrieu joked that she would like to get a fried turkey on Thanksgiving but that she'd better make one just in case the gift was a no show. As far as anyone knows, Landrieu got no turkey, but a statement from Greenstein thanking "Sen. Mary Landrieu and the rest of our delegation for fighting for a fair (Medicaid) formula for Louisiana."
Bruce Alpert can be reached at balpert@timespicayune.com or 202.450.1406. Jonathan Tilove can be reached at jtilove@timespicayune.com or 202.450.1404.