Governor bans Obamacare in Idaho
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| April 24, 2011 |
(BOISE) – Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter issued an
executive order today imposing a State
prohibition on receiving federal funding for or
otherwise implementing the federal Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act – often
called "Obamacare."
Executive Order 2011-03 uses portions of House
Bill 298, a so-called "nullification bill" that
was approved by the Legislature this year. The
executive order directs State agencies not to
establish new programs, promulgate rules or
accept federal funding to implement Obamacare.
It also bars State agencies from assisting
federal agencies in implementing the law.
A copy of the executive order can be found by
clicking here.
"The Legislature clearly wanted to send a
message to the national government this session,
expressing its frustration with Obamacare. I
agree with the message and know the debate about
Obamacare would be vastly different, if not
completely unnecessary, if the national
government adhered to the Tenth Amendment,"
Governor Otter wrote in a three-page letter to
Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, explaining his
veto of House Bill 298, which sought to entirely
"nullify" the federal law's application in
Idaho.
"I also agree with the Legislature and the
sponsors of this bill that now is not the time
to implement Obamacare. However, it is equally
unacceptable to forego exploring viable state
solutions to our healthcare needs and allowing
the national government to assert more control
over Idahoans," the Governor wrote. A copy of
his letter can be found by
clicking here.
While Executive Order 2011-03 bars State
agencies from implementing Obamacare, it does
allow the Idaho departments of Insurance and
Health and Welfare to continue developing a
State health insurance exchange. The Governor
said that would prevent the federal government
from controlling the state's insurance market by
administering an exchange of its own in Idaho.
"I had worked in the health insurance field for
over 30 years and applaud the Governor for
allowing Idaho to remain in control and giving
our citizens the reins for our own solution to
healthcare reform,"Idaho Department of Health
and Welfare Director Richard Armstrong said. "I
am confident that Idaho's expertise and can-do
attitude will design an exchange that provides
better access for families and employers, while
also preserving the health insurance
marketplace.""
Wayne Hoffman, executive director of the Idaho
Freedom Foundation – which worked closely with
legislative sponsors of House Bill 298 – said
the executive order was a positive alternative.
"When we started the year, our No. 1 priority
was to stop the operability of Obamacare in
Idaho. The Governor's executive order meets our
objectives by using our language from House
bills 117 and 298 to send a powerful message
that the State of Idaho will not be a willing
partner in the implementation of an
unconstitutional federal law," Hoffman said. "It
is an important step in the right direction for
Idaho and for freedom. We are grateful to the
Governor for his action as well as the hard work
of Senators Pearce, Fulcher, Vick and Nuxoll,
and Representatives Barbieri and Boyle, on this
issue."
Senator Russ Fulcher of Meridian, one of the
Senate cosponsors, also welcomed Governor
Otter's action.
"The intent of H298 was to lawfully discourage
the implementation of Obamacare in Idaho," he
said. "To me it doesn't matter if that happens
through legislation or executive order. I am
just thankful to have the Governor's support on
the issue." |
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