The House of Representatives met the desires of House Speaker William O’Brien, R-Mont Vernon and Republican leaders to defy requirements of states under the federal health care law.
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By a party-line vote, the House endorsed an amendment O’Brien authored, HB 1297, to not only refuse to create a state exchange, but also to prevent Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny from cooperating with the Obama administration to set up a federal one.
The final vote was 219-94.
Rep. Donna Schlachman, Exeter-D had argued that states need to do planning now.
“This legislation is about wishful thinking and political posturing; it is not about being prepared,” Schlachman said.
During his state of the state speech, Lynch forcefully called upon the state to pass a bill creating a health care exchange.
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Schlachman said the bill was counterproductive because the national law mandates that the federal government is to move in and set up exchanges in states that lack their own.
“Rather than make decisions for our state, House Republicans are passing the buck on to the federal government and failing to meet their responsibilities,” Schlachman said. “Businesses and families can’t just assume something is going to happen – they need to be prepared for contingencies.”
A large coalition of business groups are supporting state health exchanges including the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce, Business & Industry Association, auto dealers, ski resort owners along with the major insurance companies in the state.
The state Senate has already failed once to support state health exchanges.
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/newsstatenewengland/952891-227/house-republicans-reject-required-health-care-exchange.html
Hat Tip: Nashua Telegraph
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