While Democrats line up to criticize Gov. Tom Corbett’s decision to opt out of the Obamacare health insurance exchange, Republicans widely praised the move on Tuesday.
All 11 incumbent GOP congressman, lead by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Chester), sounded off against the Affordable Care Act in a joint statement.
“We agree with Governor Corbett’s decision to not pursue a state-based health insurance exchange. The President’s health care law was passed nearly three years ago and yet the Department of Health and Human Services has yet to issue clear guidance to states. The Governor clearly cannot make an informed decision given the scant and tentative information the Obama Administration has provided.
“The potential costs to the state, to taxpayers, and to employers remain unknown. However, it is clear through the actions of this Administration that a state exchange would be state run in name only and real decisions would be dictated by Washington bureaucrats not made by Pennsylvanians. We fully support Governor Corbett’s decision and call on President Obama and Secretary Sebelius to finally answer the critical questions governors have been asking since the law was passed in 2010.”
Pa. Republican Party Chairman Rob Gleason echoed the sentiment.
“Obamacare is nothing more than a massive tax that increases health care costs and puts the federal government between patients and their doctors, and by refusing to participate in Obamacare’s state-based exchanges, Governor Corbett took an important step today to shield Pennsylvanians from the President’s health care debacle,” he said.
4 Responses
Governor Corbett was too hasty in his decision. I think he needs to keep his re-election interests in his back pocket when decided extremely important issues, such as health care. Who is paying for those without insurance now? We, the taxpayer!!! Any universal health care plan would be better than what we have now. As it is, the insurance companies are ruling the physicians & employers alike. That’s like having the fox guard the hen house. Thank the insurance lobbyist & our politicians for this. Politicians are counting on your ignorance to just follow like sheep. “How lucky for leaders that men do not think.” Adolf Hitler
As a Republican I think this was a dumb move – Corbett should have opted to set up a state exchange so he could have control over it. The ultra-conservative Governor of Idaho opted to create a state exchange in his state for this very reason. Corbett isn’t interested in governing. He’s lazy.
Headed there anyway. No one in PA wants their name attached to it. Obamacare is doomed to fail and should crush under its own weight. The question is how fast can we pick up the pieces when it does. In almost 3 years, there has been nothing written as stated on any type of guideline. How many companies have been given waivers to postpone? Even the Dems are backing off the medical implant tax. Just wait for three weeks when the real 86% of the work force get socked with OC taxes on top of higher income tax rates. Talk about taking your medicine. Although this is like a suppository with how and where it is being shoved.
Unintended Consequences of the Republican Stratergy to federalize the health exchanges:
This hastens the march towards a single payer USA health plan.