WT: The $300 million Louisiana Purchase

Washington Times has an editorial denouncing Sen. Mary Landrieu for voting to bring the health-care bill to the Senate earlier this month, saying she "sold her vote" and "bragged" about it afterward.

The Times warns that by raising the percentage that the federal government matches Louisiana's Medicaid spending, the state might follow Alaska's path in increasing state Medicaid spending as well -- meaning that the burden on federal taxpayers would increase exponentially.

"Even if the number of those eligible were somehow magically not to change, the potential cost of expanded benefits is huge."

Louisiana's matching rate has historically been around 70 percent, according to an article penned by the National Review, which means "Louisiana spends only $30 of her own taxpayers’ money to garner $70 from the federal government." If the health-care bill in the Senate passes in current form, that number would go up to 80 percent, meaning that for each dollar spent in the state on Medicaid, the federal government gives the state $4 -- making it easily one of the highest rates of reimbursements in the country.

"What incentive will Louisiana have to make sensible reductions to its Medicaid program when each $1 that it cuts will result in a loss of at least $4 in federal funds?" writes Brian Blase for the National Review.

"Recessions should not represent opportunities to bribe politicians from economically distressed states to pass a massive overhaul of our country’s health-care system. It certainly makes one doubt that Reid’s health-care-reform package is a genuinely good idea when he has to resort to kickbacks to even garner the support of his own caucus."

Their points may be moot, however, as an Advocate editorial points out. Louisiana's income, according to the article, was "artificially inflated by insurance payments and federal aid in the wake of the hurricanes of 2005." If the reimbursement rate is adjusted for that income, then that puts Louisiana in danger of facing even more of a shortfall when crafting the 2011 state budget. 

The "$300 million Louisiana Purchase," as some call it, may end up helping to plug that gap.

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NYT: Brad Pitt's Gifts to New Orleans

While Brad Pitt is universally praised for founding the Make it Right foundation and contributing to the construction of several homes in the Lower 9th Ward, some have a qualm with his work: they're too darned ugly.

In a New York Times article that looks at the work the foundation has done, travel writer Fred Bernstein spoke with some architects who feel the work doesn't fit in with the rest of the city's architectural style.

"James Dart, a Manhattan-based architect who was born and raised in New Orleans, described the houses as 'alien, sometimes even insulting,' adding, 'the biggest problem is that they are not grounded in the history of New Orleans architecture,'" writes Bernstein.

Another concern brought up by architects is the sudden spurt of Grand Isle-style homes that sit on stilts. Some of the homes built by Pitt's foundation, according to article, look like "skyscrapers" that tower over the rest of the homes in the area.

But whether you love or hate the look, most can agree on something: at least they're being built.

"'He deserves a great deal of credit,' Mr. Dart said, adding that Mr. Pitt had 'done more for New Orleans' than any government agency."

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NYT: Food Stamp Use Soars, and Stigma Fades 

According to a New York Times article that looks at the record number of people using government aid for food in the United States, food stamps help to feed over 50 percent of children in New Orleans. In Louisiana, a third of the children receive food aid, and in East Carroll Parish a whopping 75 percent of children receive them.

The article looks at the abuse of the system by some, including one woman who picked up her food stamps in a Mercedes-Benz, and how some in fact need convincing to sign up for the food stamps.

"'I come here and I see people who are knowledgeable, normal, well-spoken, well-dressed,'" said one woman interviewed for the article who works for a food bank. “'These are people I could be having lunch with.'"

For a map looking at the amount of food stamp use across the country, click here.

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Stuff: New Orleans keeps humming

If you've ever wanted to see New Orleans through the eyes of a New Zealander (who wouldn't?), New Zealand Stuff has a thorough account of one writer's trip to our city.

Maris Beck visited most of the staples: the Lower 9th Ward, Lafayette Cemetary, the French Quarter and more.

"New Orleans will be rebuilding for a long time," writes Beck. "But its spirit remains as vibrant as ever and the city is back in working order: airports, all major highways, bus lines, the St Charles streetcar, major museums and universities. And there are more restaurants now than there were before Katrina hit."

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