States refusing to pony up their share of Medicare Part D costs

States are openly resisting a provision of the Medicare law thatrequires them to pay billions of dollars a year to the federalgovernment to help finance the cost of the new Medicare drug benefit.

Texas is leading the chargeagainst the requirement, which states see as more onerous than themandates imposed on them by the 2002 education law, the No Child LeftBehind Act.

Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, has vetoed a $444 million appropriation covering the Texas contribution for the next two years.

In his veto message and in a letter to other governors, Mr. Perry saidhe objected to the federal requirement in principle and to the way itwas being interpreted by the federal Medicare agency.

Where will it all lead?  Find out more in the New York Times.