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HAMPTON: Politics of Medicaid dangerous territory 

And, definitely, House Democrats are correct that the cigarette tax should be increased. It is the third lowest in the nation and smoking adds to the Medicaid costs.

But the policy and the politics are two different things. Barbour doesn't have a policy problem when it comes to funding Medicaid; he has a political problem. Barbour losing

For once, the governor is losing on the politics, something he is not accustomed to doing.

Voters overwhelmingly support a tobacco tax increase. Voters don't understand the complicated funding proposals. All they hear is hospital tax and think they will end up paying it. (They probably wouldn't or shouldn't but they think that.) Now they are hearing Medicaid cuts, and they worry about Aunt Bessie getting kicked out of the nursing home. Barbour loses on every political point. Meanwhile, all House Democrats have to do is nothing to keep Barbour in the snake pit. . . .

Barbour clearly has been shaken by this situation. His normal constituencies are divided while House Democrats are standing firm. His hallmark political pragmatism has not been evident.

I personally believe a compromise lies in allowing a vote on the cigarette tax, whether it is used for Medicaid or not.

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