Here is an excellent summary by Kaiser Health News of the dilemma that GOP lawmakers face with regard to health care exchanges. The exchanges are required by ObamaCare. If Obamacare is not defeated either by the U.S. Supreme Court or by repeal by Congress, the state of Minnesota has to have an exchange in place on Jan. 1, 2014. Rep. Steve Gottwalt, who opposes ObamaCare, think the state is better off crafting the exchange sooner rather than later so that the GOP is in the drivers seat as much as possible, while other lawmakers are more willing to “play chicken” (for lack of a better phrase) with the Obama administration and Gov. Dayton.(Both Obama and Dayton support a public option or the full socialization of medical care).
Healthcare activist Twila Brase (Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom www.healthcarefreedom.us ) has lead the fight against caving to a sense of inevitability on ObamaCare; she can pack the room at hearings with citizens, many of whom are active in tea parties, who are not willing to give an inch on ObamaCare. Her argument is that any exchange Minnesota sets up will be run by the Feds anyway, that the sense of control that Gottwalt and the business community seeks, is an illusion.
We have opposed ObamaCare as bad law and bad policy. Kim Crockett has testified throughout this session on the constitutional issues raised by the legislation. We respect our fellow conservatives who are on the front lines of this dilemma and hope, when the session is over, to bring all parties together to discuss the best solution for Minnesotans.
