&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Governor and the Michigan Senate republicans continue their Kabuki dance over Medicaid Expansion in Lansing and around the state, as we seem to be approaching the final scene in this political play later this month.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Over the last few months we have seen the drama unfold with the passage of HB 4714 in the House after pressure was applied by lobbyists and the Governor. That was soon followed by more pressure on the senators again by the Governor with his Obamaesk medical professional staff in their scrubs sullenly lined up behind him. <br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lobbyists and the progressive media continued to play their part, as it was scripted, demanding a vote from the senators and telling them to come back from &ldquo;vacation and vote&rdquo;. <br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; State of Michigan Department of Community Health employees were called in to help by lighting up the twittersphere with tweets for people to call their senators and tell them to vote for the expansion.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Governor came back early from a trip to Israel to apply his &ldquo;Relentless, positive, action&rdquo; on the non-conformist (free thinking) senators who hadn&rsquo;t bent to his will.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All this was to no avail -- Majority leader Richardville invoked the Hastert rule not allowing for a floor vote because a majority of the republican caucus was not in favor of passage.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Over the summer the Governor and Lt. Governor took their Medicaid Expansion show on the road to the senate districts where the deviant senators were from.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The drum beat to come back and vote continued from the Governor, the democrats, and the media but Richardville wouldn&rsquo;t relent.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally a meeting was held between the Governor and Richardville and they all agreed to play nice, for a while.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Now that summer has almost come and gone the stage has been set for what may well be the final act of the Medicaid Expansion drama.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The final act of the play may well take place on August 27 when the Senate reconvenes to address the issue. To muddy the waters two alternative private market plans (SB 422, and in SB 459 &amp; SB 460) have been introduced for possible consideration along with the original plan that was passed by the House earlier this year (HB 4714).<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer says she is concerned about whether there will even be a vote.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One rumor has it that Senator Richardville may allow all three Medicaid options to come up for a vote knowing the two alternative plans are doomed to defeat before they ever get serious consideration. Ultimately, will Richardville bend to the &ldquo;Nerd&rsquo;s&rdquo; will and go against tradition to ignore the Hastert rule and allow a vote on the HB 4714 even though the caucus is not in agreement?<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Like any good drama the final act always has a surprise. I don&rsquo;t want to give it away, but inside politics might be in play - imagine that!<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It is suggested there may be a senator that may sell his soul for &ldquo;25 pieces of silver&rdquo; in seeking the Senate Leadership position in the next term of the Senate. This senator might consider changing his position and vote for expansion of Medicaid in exchange for his assistance in passing the expansion. The benefit to him would be to get assistance in becoming the new majority leader in 2015.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In the end if Medicaid Expansion passes in the senate the Governor, the lobbyists, and the special interests will have won and the &ldquo;People&rdquo; who believe in our country and what it was founded upon will have lost.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As we wait to see the final act I hope &ldquo;The People&rdquo; of Michigan have sent &ldquo;People of Principles&rdquo; to represent them in Lansing, and that they will not bend to the pressure of the special interests.<br />
<em><strong><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Let&rsquo;s Pray they will do the &ldquo;Right Thing&rdquo;!</span></strong></em><br />
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