This isn’t too much to ask, is it?
Give State Rep. Gary Elkins some credit for being honest.
At a hearing [Thursday] of the House Committee on Human Services, Elkins and other members of the panel considered more than two dozen bills related to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Three hours into the hearing, Elkins asked: “What’s Medicaid?”
The Houston Republican continued: “I know I hear it — I really don’t know what it is. I know that’s a big shock to everybody here in the audience, OK.”
He could have kept quiet. He could have asked an aide. He could have Googled it. Instead, he asked the question into the microphone in the middle of a public hearing.
Or he could have known what it was all along, like even before he first got elected. It’s not exactly an obscure program, and it’s not unreasonable to think a state representative might have a passing familiarity with it. Guess not. Heck of a job, Gary. Whoever runs against you next year is grateful for the assist.
Nicely put Charles. It’s disappointing to see (publicly) this lack of understanding of basic programs and issues. However, his self proclaimed expertise (and legislative interest) is in “pawn shop legislation” as he pioneered the payday lending industry in Texas. His staff should introduce him to “the google” and suggest that he keep the public questions to a minimum.
I’m not overly surprised by his question though. His press releases have been at the same general level of eloquence and intellect. Someone should throw him a serious curve ball and ask “Hey Gary, what’s the difference in Medicaid and Medicare?”…
It’s a shame the district is so difficult to crack for a thinking Democrat… We’ve got to get this guy out of office. God bless redistricting in 2010.