Labrador joins DeMint, Bachman urging states to not set up health exchanges

Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador has joined Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., Rep. Michele Bachman, R-Minn., and a group of other national lawmakers in signing a letter urging all 50 states’ governors not to implement health care exchanges as required under the national health care reform law that last week was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“I urge Governor Otter to not implement an expensive, intrusive, punitive health exchange on the businesses and people of Idaho,” Labrador said in a statement. “I urge all Governors to let Congress finish the job the American people sent us to do, to fully repeal Obamacare and replace it with common-sense free market solutions.”

In Idaho, businesses interests, including the state’s health insurers and the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, have been calling for setting up a state-run exchange to avoid having a federal exchange imposed on the state; in this year’s legislative session, lawmakers declined to act, betting instead that the high court would overturn the law, but it didn’t. Click below to read Labrador’s full statement; here’s a link to the letter .

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

LABRADOR JOINS DeMINT, BACHMANN, JORDAN

IN WRITING ALL 50 GOVERNORS

URGING THEM TO REJECT STATE HEALTH EXCHANGES

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Idaho First District Congressman Raúl Labrador joined Senator Jim DeMint (SC), Congresswoman Michele Bachman (MN-06), Congressman Jim Jordan (OH-04) and 11 other senators and fifty-nine of his colleagues in the House in sending a letter to all 50 governors urging them not to set up state health exchanges, as directed under the provisions of Obamacare.

“The first vote I cast as congressman was to repeal Obamacare.  Last week’s Supreme Court ruling made it clear that Congress must complete the task of fully repealing this terrible law which the majority of Americans oppose.”

“In the Idaho Legislature, I was a proud sponsor of the Idaho Health Care Freedom Act.   That law was the catalyst for Idaho’s principled stand against the federal government’s intrusion into our healthcare decisions.  We were right then in opposing Obamacare in the courts and we are right now in our continued effort to repeal this law.”

“I urge Governor Otter to not implement an expensive, intrusive, punitive health exchange on the businesses and people of Idaho.  I urge all Governors to let Congress finish the job the American people sent us to do, to fully repeal Obamacare and replace it with common-sense free market solutions.”

(Copy of letter is attached)

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