Workers swelling rolls of Medicaid

Big Brother is taking over health care:

With little notice, the medical care program paid by federal and state taxpayers has grown from covering 34 million people in 1999 to 47 million in 2004, an examination of government data shows.

The expansion has cemented government's role as the nation's primary health insurer. About 100 million people — one in three — now have government coverage through Medicaid, Medicare, the military and federal employee health plans. More than 10 million others are eligible for Medicaid but have not signed up.

The expansion has won bipartisan support in Washington and state capitals, as a consensus has emerged to provide medical care for the poor, especially children. President Bush has proposed spending $1 billion over two years to encourage eligible families to sign up for Medicaid.

USA Today. No wonder the price of health care is going up.The Republican party and small government?