Texas Republicans have blocked two legislative proposals they said were necessary in order to consider expanding health care.

Here's what happened, in three simple steps:

1. Texas Republicans - like Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick - insist on a block grant to expand Medicaid.
2. Legislation was filed that contains block grant language for Medicaid.
3. Texas Republicans refuse to consider block grant legislation - neither HB 3845 by Rep. Coleman or HB 4054 by Rep. Martinez-Fischer were granted a hearing by Republicans in the Texas House.

Since Texas Republicans won't support their own health care demands, none of the benefits of coverage expansion are likely to come true:

• Millions more Texans will still be without affordable health insurance.
• Texas would still be unable to draw down billions in federal funds.
• The uninsured will continue relying on ERs for health care while taxpayers and hospitals pick up the tab - so long as the hospitals can stay open. 
• The 200,000 to 300,000 new jobs that would come with coverage expansion will never materialize.

Unless they take action in the final weeks of session, they'll have a lot of explaining to do when they head back home.