Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) was delighted this week to announce more taxpayer spending in his district: the Richmond University Medical Center would receive a $3 million annual increase, thanks to aid from Washington.
“I have worked tirelessly, from day one, to address the issue of a looming physician shortage,” Mr. Grimm said a statement touting the new funding. “[T]his announcement to reward RUMC with additional residency slots is welcomed news.”
The Staten Island Advance echoed this sentiment, reporting Mr. Grimm “helped the hospital obtain the cash.”
The Graduated Medical Education funding in question, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website, actually appears to have come from the Affordable Care Act.
Yes, Grimm, a House Republican freshman, ran for Congress on a platform of eliminating the Affordable Care Act in its entirety. One of his first big votes as a federal lawmaker was to scrap every word of the law from the books.
But a year later, the congressman seems awfully glad the ACA exists and is helping make a positive difference in his district.









