The PA chapter of Americans for Prosperity, a well-funded national organization affiliated with the Tea Party, singled out Rep. Scott Perry for praise this week. Perry spoke out against PA’s plans to enact a key component of the health care law.

“This is a bold act of leadership which is exactly what we need for our state,” said Jennifer Stefano, the Pa. State Director of Americans for Prosperity. “We’re looking for our legislators to follow Scott Perry’s lead and defend us by refusing to implement these exchanges and sending back the money.”

“States that value health care freedom should resist and refuse to implement Obama’s health care exchanges and return the money,” Perry wrote on his Facebook page.

Stefano says Perry, a state Rep. from York who is also running for Congress in the 4th district, was the first lawmaker to oppose federal funds associated with the law.

The exchanges are standardized, government-regulated health care plans for those eligible for subsidized coverage under the Affordable Care Act. While Republicans have condemned the law almost universally, few have turned away the federal funds that come along with enacting it.

The Inquirer reported this week that Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration had quietly sought and won a grant under the law.

When asked if Pennsylvania would be returning the money since the administration oppose the law, DPW spokeswoman Carey Miller said, “No, it’s the law.”

“This administration does not agree with the act which is why we are part of the lawsuit, but until the Supreme Court makes their decision, we will continue to comply with the law,” Miller said.

Critics like Stefano note that, should the Supreme Court uphold the law, proceeding with the exchange would make it politically impossible to repeal it by other means.