Republican state officials stall on setting up health insurance marketplaces
By N.C. Aizenman, WashPost, Published: May 12
In about two dozen states across the country, the insurance marketplaces at the heart of the 2010 health-care law remain in limbo, with Republican governors or lawmakers who oppose the statute refusing to act until the Supreme Court decides its constitutionality.
New Jersey’s Republican governor, Chris Christie, joined the ranks Thursday, vetoing a bill from the majority Democratic legislature that would have set up the Garden State’s version of the “exchanges,” through which individuals and small businesses could shop for insurance.
In states with Democratic governors, such as New Hampshire and Minnesota, it is often Republican-dominated legislatures that are causing the hold-up. And in six states where Republicans hold both branches of government, including Kansas and South Dakota, state assemblies haven’t even considered laws to establish the marketplaces.
Though the battles primarily break along partisan lines, there have been at least a half-dozen exceptions. Last spring, the Republican governor of Nevada chose not to stand in the way of an exchange bill adopted by the majority Democratic assembly. And the Republican insurance commissioner of Mississippi is using existing authority to set up an exchange with the blessing of the Republican governor.
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers in a few states — including Arkansas — have proved unwilling to push for an exchange.
(More here.)
In about two dozen states across the country, the insurance marketplaces at the heart of the 2010 health-care law remain in limbo, with Republican governors or lawmakers who oppose the statute refusing to act until the Supreme Court decides its constitutionality.
New Jersey’s Republican governor, Chris Christie, joined the ranks Thursday, vetoing a bill from the majority Democratic legislature that would have set up the Garden State’s version of the “exchanges,” through which individuals and small businesses could shop for insurance.
In states with Democratic governors, such as New Hampshire and Minnesota, it is often Republican-dominated legislatures that are causing the hold-up. And in six states where Republicans hold both branches of government, including Kansas and South Dakota, state assemblies haven’t even considered laws to establish the marketplaces.
Though the battles primarily break along partisan lines, there have been at least a half-dozen exceptions. Last spring, the Republican governor of Nevada chose not to stand in the way of an exchange bill adopted by the majority Democratic assembly. And the Republican insurance commissioner of Mississippi is using existing authority to set up an exchange with the blessing of the Republican governor.
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers in a few states — including Arkansas — have proved unwilling to push for an exchange.
(More here.)
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