McDonnell favors implementing federal Obamacare exchange in Virginia — for now for Virginia
If that deadline holds — several others have been extended as the law has rolled out — McDonnell said he intends to opt for the federal exchange, at least for now. That represents a shift for the governor, who previously said that if the law stood, he would prefer to have Virginia control its own exchange.
McDonnell said there are too many unanswered questions — how much a state-run exchange would cost, how well the federal version will work, whether the private sector might fill the niche — to move ahead on a Virginia exchange. He said his letters to President Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, seeking clarification in a number of areas, have gone unanswered.
“I don’t want to buy a pig in a poke for the taxpayers of Virginia,” McDonnell said. “Without further information, the only logical decision for us is to use the federal option.”









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I don’t care what Minnesota does, I converted to Amish yesterday.
Bishop on November 9, 2012 at 9:23 AM
And people talked about him for VP.
Of course, isn’t forcing everyone onto the federal option the goal of Obama’s health care package in the first place?
Washington Nearsider on November 9, 2012 at 9:24 AM
Does it matter? One way or another, ObamaCare is coming…as are more layoffs, even higher premiums/costs, and more limited choice.
Nice job, America. Suckers.
changer1701 on November 9, 2012 at 9:26 AM
I love how they are making decisions for people on something they do not want.
Blake on November 9, 2012 at 9:28 AM
Republican Party is making like Guam, tip over, capsize.
forest on November 9, 2012 at 9:29 AM
The next front in the battle.
Blue states will jump, red states will balk.
cozmo on November 9, 2012 at 9:29 AM
I see a huge upswing coming in conversions to the progressive wing of the Amish.
cozmo on November 9, 2012 at 9:30 AM
Obamacare is a done deal, the only way to fight it now is to sue for not living up to its promises.
Cindy Munford on November 9, 2012 at 9:38 AM
“Any people, anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable, a most sacred right, a right which we hope and believe is to liberate the world”.
Abraham Lincoln – U.S. Congress, 1847
A little over 10 years later after the South attempted precisely that, Lincoln, when asked, “Why not let the South go in peace”? replied; “I can’t let them go. Who would pay for the government”? “And, what then will become of my tariff”?
Abraham Lincoln to Virginia Compromise Delegation March 1861
Tilly on November 9, 2012 at 9:41 AM
I’m going to miss zippers but hey, us Amish gotta go what we gotta do.
Bishop on November 9, 2012 at 9:42 AM
Don’t forget, however, that there’s the little detail in Obamacare that says that federal subsidies are only available for exchanges set up by the states, and not for the federal exchanges. Assuming Justice Roberts doesn’t rewrite the law again, that means that the exchanges will be completely useless, and they won’t have any effect.
Mohonri on November 9, 2012 at 9:43 AM
I thought there was a glich in the law.
The way the Dem clowns drafted it, the subsidies (tax credits, I think) available to taxpayers having AGI all the way up to $88K were available only if the exchange is a state exchange. In contrast, if the exchange were just the federal exchange, no subsidies (tax credits).
Sorry, I forget much of the analysis. But one piece I read suggested that this glaring, but recently uncovered problem, was a way for GOP governors to help the House force through some amendments to this POS bill.
OT: So when do these clowns repeal the tax on medical devices before the industry is crippled in this country?
BuckeyeSam on November 9, 2012 at 9:47 AM
So you think it’s going to be an improvement over my paying COBRA after having been downsized in the Obamaconomy?
Because if we’re fated to have a bloated government healthcare system that I don’t have to make payments of over $500 a month to, then hell, yeah, I’m going to take advantage of it.
I don’t see the point in fighting anymore. I think I’m going to join the government gravy train and get EVERYTHING they want to give me. Maybe I’ll just stop working and let the government support me.
I mean, why work? They’re just going to take it out of your paycheck anyway.
I cannot believe this joker was re-elected. I just can’t believe it.
Meryl Yourish on November 9, 2012 at 9:52 AM
Building barns and churning butter is so much better than working for Big Victim.
Punchenko on November 9, 2012 at 9:56 AM
Hey, why not? Hollywood said they would *love* to pay for us to lay about all day and enjoy the blessings of government. It’s time for Will Smith, Cher, Eva Longoria, and other sundry idiots to support us.
Hollywood income tax at 95%, NOW!
Punchenko on November 9, 2012 at 10:01 AM
I think we all should send thank you notes to John Roberts…
d1carter on November 9, 2012 at 10:06 AM
Yes, I said this yesterday. Free apartment, free obamaphone, free car, free insurance, free healthcare, free food, free cable, free internet, etc.
Why bother to work anymore? How can you possibly beat that?
rightside on November 9, 2012 at 10:15 AM
Roberts is and isn’t the problem. He didn’t do his job, but Americans had the power to undo Obamacare a few days ago and chose not to. As Rush ponted out, we can survive another Obama term, but we probably can’t survive a country that would reelect him.
The Count on November 9, 2012 at 10:17 AM
My letter to McDonnell and ALL GOP governors:
The states can beat Obamacare if we push our governors and state legislators. No more capitulation!
Charlemagne on November 9, 2012 at 10:19 AM
I don’t blame him. It’s going to come to that anyway. Let the dems own everything.
mrscullen on November 9, 2012 at 10:19 AM
One strategy for Red states is to work with your legislatures to create an environment hostile to the welfare culture. Pass laws that make it very difficult to be a moocher. We can drive the parasites to the Blue states and hasten their collapse.
Charlemagne on November 9, 2012 at 10:22 AM
Brownback in Kansas is doing the same thing. He held off implementing it until right after the election, and now is having to going forward, but doesn’t have a plan yet.
http://www.lifehealthpro.com/2012/11/08/kansas-officials-ponder-next-health-care-step
cptacek on November 9, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Bishop to form heavily armed Amish Militia.
I’m on the phone to the Southern Poverty Law Center right now warning them.
CorporatePiggy on November 9, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Oh, I agree…but most of the country saw the SCOTUS decision as an endorsement of ObamaCare. We saw the pretzel logic inside the decision by a “Conservative” judge, most work a day Americans saw it as the law of the land.
d1carter on November 9, 2012 at 11:13 AM
That may imply relocation, isn’t islam a better option? There are mosks everywhere. My Arabic night classes start next week.
slickwillie2001 on November 9, 2012 at 11:13 AM
So you think it’s going to be an improvement over my paying COBRA after having been downsized in the Obamaconomy?
Because if we’re fated to have a bloated government healthcare system that I don’t have to make payments of over $500 a month to, then hell, yeah, I’m going to take advantage of it.
I don’t see the point in fighting anymore. I think I’m going to join the government gravy train and get EVERYTHING they want to give me. Maybe I’ll just stop working and let the government support me.
I mean, why work? They’re just going to take it out of your paycheck anyway.
I cannot believe this joker was re-elected. I just can’t believe it.
Meryl Yourish on November 9, 2012 at 9:52 AM
I was thinking the same thing. We had to foreclose on our house, and while I really want to own a piece of land right now, we figured we’d have to wait since we have that foreclosure on our record. But, there will probably be another government program coming along to force banks to loan again, right? I might as well get on that gravy train since it’s my tax dollars paying for it anyway.
ConArtist in Tampa on November 9, 2012 at 11:15 AM
That’s the big deal that democratics want from Republicans in the new Congress, a patch to repair that mistake. I believe it was an error on their part. The only question, what will Boehner get in return for caving on this?
slickwillie2001 on November 9, 2012 at 11:16 AM
That’s the big deal that democratics want from Republicans in the new Congress, a patch to repair that mistake. I believe it was an error on their part. The only question, what will Boehner get in return for caving on this?
slickwillie2001 on November 9, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Since it’s Boehner, I’m guessing he won’t get anything in return. He’ll cave on everything. Go GOP!
ConArtist in Tampa on November 9, 2012 at 11:19 AM
CorporatePiggy on November 9, 2012 at 11:29 AM
OK, so we all go on federal exchanges and then, what, Congress doesn’t fund it?
JohnTant on November 9, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Actually, yes.
There was no funding for the federal exchanges in ZeroCare (it would have “bent the cost curve up”, even in funny-accounting), and their assumption was that the states would go ahead and come up with their own exchange, since no subsidies would be provided if they went for the federal exchanges. (So, no, it wasn’t a “mistake”).
What this means is 1) a state on the federal exchange, won’t have to pay anything for it, unlike the billions each state would have to pay to run their own; 2) individuals in the state would not be eligible for federal subsidies to get insurance on the federal exchange; 3) business in the state would be exempt from the employer penalty for not providing health insurance.
In short, a total cluster, with no money to fix it.
lyons8804 on November 9, 2012 at 12:56 PM