Opinion- Pieces From Around the U.S.

Iowa- "Let the Feds Create Iowa's Health Exchange"
The health reform law relies on “exchanges” in each state to connect Americans with insurance. Starting in 2014, people will be able to shop in these marketplaces to buy insurance coverage. Many will get help from the government to pay for it.
States are supposed to build their exchanges or the federal government will do it for them.
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It was a reminder that special interests will work hard to benefit themselves, and they are circling again this year.
Granted, the federal government is vulnerable to the same types of influences. Yet executive branch officials are comparatively less likely to be swayed by special interests. They don’t receive campaign contributions. They don’t have to pander to voters.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120202/OPINION03/302020041/1094/SPORTS0206/?odyssey=nav%7Chead
Hat tip: Des Moines Register


New Hampshire- "We Must Reject Health Exchange"
The New Hampshire House will take up legislation soon that would prohibit a state health insurance exchange and force Washington to repeal, replace or amend Obamacare.A health insurance exchange is a bureaucratic set of state-regulated and standardized health care plans in the United States, from which individuals may purchase health insurance eligible for federal subsidies. Under Obamacare, states must implement these exchanges by Jan. 1, 2014, or the federal government will do it for them.State health insurance exchanges are really the meat and potatoes of Obamacare, and also the structure that would enable enforcement of the individual mandate.
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Health insurance exchanges involve the total takeover of the health-care market by the federal government, whether through a voluntary state health insurance exchange or a default federal exchange.
http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/308394/we-must-reject-health-exchange?SESS4e64e70cbb755cdd78e4464b1ef34cc9=google&page=full
Hat tip: Concord Monitor


Idaho- "Gov. Otter Gives Up the Fight, Before it Even Got Started"
The health exchange issue has put Gov. Butch Otter in the middle, flanked by two of his natural constituencies.
On one side are the business interests that have reliably supported Otter throughout his political career. They believe, adamantly, that a state-run health exchange is a must — because it provides small businesses with a marketplace where they can shop for affordable insurance.
On the other side are some of the most conservative members of the Legislature. They believe, adamantly, that an exchange is simply an extension of a federal government takeover of health care, especially since it would be bankrolled by $20.3 million from the federal health care law.
Otter seems to be taking the easiest possible way out.
Last week, he told reporters that the health exchange issue is all but moot because the state probably doesn’t have enough time to put together the framework of a plan to meet a January 2013 federal deadline.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/01/29/1972803/otter-gives-up-the-fight-before.html
Hat tip: Idaho Statesman