JOINING US. I’M JULIE CORNELL. I’M ROB MCCARTNEY. THE GOVERNOR INTRODUCED HIS BUDGET IN THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AT THE UNICAMERAL TODAY. HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS. IT LIMITS THE GROWTH OF STATE SPENDING TO AN ANNUAL AVERAGE OF 1.3% DURING THE NEXT TWO YEARS. PALIN PROPOSED AN ADDITIONAL $390 MILLION INVESTMENT INTO THE PROPERTY TAX CREDIT RELIEF FUND. HE ALSO WANTS TO SEE ONE AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS IN INCOME TAX CUTS FOR PEOPLE, FAMILIES, BUSINESSES AND SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS. AND HE PITCHED HIS EDUCATION FUTURE FUND THE BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 24. BUT ONE THING THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT MENTION IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS HEALTH CARE FUNDING. A JOINT STATEMENT BY MULTA HOSPITAL GROUP SAYS HIS BUDGET IGNORES THE CRISIS THAT PROVIDERS ARE FACING AS THEY CARE FOR NEBRASKANS. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN. SHAWN MCKINNON SPOKE WITH THE STATE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, JOINS US LIVE WITH THEIR REACTION. SHAWN, IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE GETTING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES, THE NEBRASKA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SAYS IT MIGHT GET WORSE. THEY SAY THE GOVERNOR’S CURRENT BUDGET PROPOSAL MAY NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP SOME NEBRASKA HOSPITALS ALIVE. GOVERNOR JIM DILLON, CONFIDENT AS A HOG FARMER IN HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL THIS BUDGET IS VERY, VERY DOABLE. I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY WHEN I HAVE CONFERENCE SOMETHING, I’LL BET THE FARM ON IT. BUT THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SAYS PLANS BUDGET. IT LEAVES A HOLE IN HEALTH CARE. THE GOVERNOR’S BUDGET PROPOSAL IGNORES THE CRISIS. JEREMY NORDQUIST SAYS NEBRASKA HOSPITALS WANTED AN ALMOST 10% BUDGETING CREASE ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH THEIR COSTS, RAISING THE GOVERNOR’S BUDGET RIGHT NOW LOOKS LIKE THERE’S NO INCREASE IN MEDICAID AT ALL. GOVERNOR JIM PILLEN DEFENDED THE STAGNANT HEALTH CARE BUDGET, CALLING MEDICAL BILLS UPSIDE DOWN. I THINK EVERYWHERE IN HEALTH CARE HAS TO START STUDYING AND REALLY FIGURING AND STUDYING THAT PROBLEM TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. I’M NOT AN ADVOCATE THAT MORE MONEY WILL SOLVE OUR HEALTH CARE PROBLEMS. NORDQUIST SAYS NEBRASKA HOSPITALS ARE RELYING ON STATE FUNDING BECAUSE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID RATES ARE ALREADY SET FOR MOST OF OUR HOSPITALS, ANYWHERE FROM 60 TO 80% OF THEIR MONEY THAT COMES IN COMES FROM A GOVERNMENT PAYER MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AND THOSE RATES ARE SET. HE SAYS MORE THAN HALF OF ALL NEBRASKA HOSPITALS ARE OPERATING IN THE RED AND IF THE BUDGET DOESN’T CHANGE IN THE UNICAMERAL, WE WILL LOSE SERVICES AND MAYBE EVEN HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE. BUT FOR GOVERNOR PALIN, SPENDING IS NOT A LUXURY HE’S WILLING TO AFFORD. I’M NOT ONE THAT BELIEVES JUST BECAUSE WE GOT A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY, THAT WE THAT WE SHOULD JUST GO AND SPEND IT. NORQUIST EMPHASIZED RURAL HOSPITALS, HEALTH CARE, NURSING HOMES AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES WOULD BE HIT THE HARDEST IF THEY DON’T GET MORE FUNDING. NOW, GOVERNOR PALIN’S BUDGET PROPOSAL HEADS TO THE UNICAMERAL. REPORTIN