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AZ Gov. Brewer takes bold, opt-out action on ObamaCare

Friday, November 30, 2012 2:32

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(Before It's News)

Connective liberal thread identifies those who lean toward socialized medicine

The Supreme Court’s 5-4 193-page opinion on the Affordable Care Act — ObamaCare — allows states to opt out of the law’s expansion of Medicaid, leaving each state’s decision to participate in the hands of the nation’s governors and state leaders. Arizona’s Gov. Jan Brewer took this decisive action yesterday. Her statement can be read here.

In this Nov. 29, letter to Gary Cohen, Director of the Office of Consumer information and Insurance Oversight of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Brewer explains her decision. To date, these are the stats:

In NOT PARTICIPATING, Arizona joins Republican governors in these 8 states:

Alabama: Gov. Robert Bentley (R) announced that Alabama will not participate in the Medicaid expansion “because we simply cannot afford it” (Montgomery Advertiser.

Georgia: Gov. Nathan Deal (R) said, “No, I do not have any intentions of expanding Medicaid. I think that is something our state cannot afford.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Louisiana: Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) in an NBC “Meet the Press” interview said, “Every governor’s got two critical decisions to make. One is do we set up these exchanges? And, secondly, do we expand Medicaid? And, no, in Louisiana, we’re not doing either one of those things.”

Maine: Gov. Paul LePage (R) said that Maine will not participate in the Medicaid expansion. He called the expansion and the state-based insurance exchanges a “degradation of our nation’s premier health care system” (Kennebec Journal).

Mississippi: Gov. Phil Bryant (R) said Mississippi will not participate in the Medicaid expansion.. (Jackson Clarion-Ledger).

South Carolina: Gov. Nikki Haley (R) announced via Facebook that South Carolina “will NOT expand Medicaid, or participate in any health exchanges.”

Oklahoma: Gov. Mary Fallin (R) said “Oklahoma will not be participating in the Obama Administration’s proposed expansion of Medicaid.” She noted that the program would cost the state as much as $475 million over the next eight years (Tulsa World).

Texas: Gov. Rick Perry (R) issued this statement saying, “If anyone was in doubt, we in Texas have no intention to implement so-called state exchanges or to expand Medicaid under ObamaCare.” Perry also sent a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on July 9 asserting this position. (Dallas Morning News).

The following 5 states are leaning toward NOT Participating:

Iowa: Gov. Terry Branstad (R) said that he expects to opt out of the expansion.

Nebraska: Gov. Dave Heineman (R) made his opposition clear in this statement.

Nevada: Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) indicates that he is leaning toward not expanding the state’s Medicaid program.

New Jersey: Gov. Chris Christie (R) said New Jersey has little room to expand Medicaid Newark Star-Ledger.

Virginia: Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) said he opposes expanding Medicaid, noting that he does not “believe the federal government can possibly deliver its commitment to fully fund the program, and I don’t want to be part of contributing trillions of dollars to the national debt.”

These 12 states and Washington, DC ARE Participating:

Arkansas: Gov. Mike Beebe (D)

California: Gov. Jerry Brown (D)

Connecticut: Gov. Dannel Malloy (D)

Delaware: Gov. Jack Markell: Chair of the Democrat Governors Association.

District of Columbia: D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray (D)

Hawaii: Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D)

Illinois: Gov. Pat Quinn (D)

Maryland: Gov. Martin O’Malley (D)

Massachusetts: Gov. Deval Patrick (D)

Minnesota: Gov. Mark Dayton (D)

Rhode Island: Gov. Lincoln Chaffee (I)