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Home Front: Politix
Obamacare Is Still Vulnerable
2012-11-10
For educational purposes
President Obama has won reelection, and his administration has asked state officials to decide by Friday, November 16, whether their state will create one of Obamacare's health-insurance "exchanges." States also have to decide whether to implement the law's massive expansion of Medicaid. The correct answer to both questions remains a resounding no.

State-created exchanges mean higher taxes, fewer jobs, and less protection of religious freedom. States are better off defaulting to a federal exchange. The Medicaid expansion is likewise too costly and risky a proposition. Republican Governors Association chairman Bob McDonnell (R.,Va.) agrees, and has announced that Virginia will implement neither provision.

There are many arguments against creating exchanges.
I'm still not clear on what these "exchanges" are and what they do
First, states are under no obligation to create one.

Second, operating an Obamacare exchange would be illegal in 14 states. Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia have enacted either statutes or constitutional amendments (or both) forbidding state employees to participate in an essential exchange function: implementing Obamacare's individual and employer mandates.

Third, each exchange would cost its state an estimated $10 million to $100 million per year, necessitating tax increases.

Fourth, the November 16 deadline is no more real than the "deadlines" for implementing REAL ID, which have been pushed back repeatedly since 2008.

Fifth, states can always create an exchange later if they choose.
Posted by:Sherry

#5  NukeObamaCareNow™

There, I got muh copyright, right?
Posted by: Shipman   2012-11-10 19:03  

#4  I got this all botched up. Tennessee had a program called TennCare that was implemented during the Clinton administration.
Posted by: JohnQC   2012-11-10 17:48  

#3  Things got truncated. Should read "I suspected."
Posted by: JohnQC   2012-11-10 17:47  

#2  uspected it was a trial balloon on the part of Hillary for something grander like ObamaCare. TennCare was a failure that nearly bankrupted the state. Interestingly, Gov. Bredesen (a Democrat) reformed TennCare and cut way back on eligibility and benefits. I suspect the torpedoed him from being considered from Secretary of HHS--he is a reasonable person and fiscally conservative believe it or not.
Posted by: JohnQC   2012-11-10 17:46  

#1  They should named the federal exchange (and every state exchange) 'The John Roberts Federal BOHICA health and tax exchange'
Posted by: Airandee   2012-11-10 15:31  

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