WASHINGTON – President Obama said Monday he now supports a plan by
Republican Senator Scott Brown that allows states to opt out of the health care overhaul’s key requirements early, a concession that positions the president as willing to compromise on his signature accomplishment.Obama’s shift was announced in an address to the nation’s governors, many of whom have sued the White House to prevent implementation of the health care law. While boosting the prospects of the Massachusetts senator’s bipartisan bill in the Senate, the new position is unlikely to placate the health care law’s detractors or gain approval in the GOP-controlled House. And such an endorsement will not win back support for Brown from Tea Party conservatives, who ferociously denounce the law as an overreach of federal power.
Is this significant?
What happens to states which opt-out? How long can they opt out for?
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It puts a big hole in the Right’s criticism that he is forcing health care down everyone’s throats. The Far Right will continue to criticize it, but independents will likely be assuaged.
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p>States that opt out may find themselves taking the money at the same time they criticize the plan. That’s what GOP governors did with stimulus money.
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p>A bigger question is what, if anything, will happen to money that would have gone to states that opt out?
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p>If health insurance reform demonstrate benefits, states that don’t will get jealous.
The bill already allows such “innovation” in 2017. The announcment (and the effect of the Wyden/Brown bill) is that states would be allowed to opt out as early as 2014.
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p>States that chose to opt-out of the ACA requirements (including the individual mandate) would be required to obtain from the feds a State Innovation Waiver detailing a health care plan that must (1) cover at least as many state residents as “ObamaCare” and with plans that are at least as comprehensive and affordable; and (2) not increase the fderal budget deficit.
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p>State’s could operate under approved Innovation Waivers for a period of up to five years. Upon review, these could apparantly be renewed indefinitely.
I thought FL and PA both alrady did.
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p>On a seperate note, THIS will defuse the lawsuit in Federal court. By giving states a way to opt out, the unconstitutional usurpation of authority is eliminated. It becomes more like educational standards, where a minimum is met but the Feds don’t control local curriculum.
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p>Obama is a constitutional scholar – may well be why he endorsed the bill.
but I wanted to add that this is a good move for Scott Brown as well. His future as a Massachusetts senator will depend on independents, not Tea Partiers.
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p>I can’t imagine any circumstances in which I’d vote for Scott Brown, but giving credit where credit is due, I think he’s done a good job positioning himself politically. He’s going to be hard to beat in ’12.