While the South Carolina legislature passed a bill to expand Medicaid and fund it with a cigarette tax, Governor Mark Sanford vetoed the bill and the House failed to override it. Perhaps more interesting than this odd event (given that many states find it politically expedient to burden cigarette smokers to pay for middle class health care) were the comments by House leaders and the governor in opposing the legislation:

House Speaker Bobby Harrell: "What kind of message are we sending to our state's future generations? Using this tax to expand a government entitlement program will set up an expectation of non-responsibility and establish an entitlement society. These children will grow up being taught that it is the government's job to care for them."

Gov. Sanford: "I can't in good conscious sign off on something that both increases the overall tax burden, and is completely irresponsible in the way it expands a host of Medicaid benefits without any way to pay for them in future years. That gives state government three alternatives to keep providing those benefits: raise taxes, cut other programs or start encouraging people to smoke more to foot the bill."

This kind of thinking is rare in most states. Politicians from both parties look upon Medicaid as a good way to decrease the number of uninsured. At least a few in South Carolina haven't bought into this thinking.