States Reeling as Obamacare Burden Nears
State officials say they are struggling to meet the law's deadline for getting the exchanges running by 2014. Strapped budgets have left states without the staff to handle basics such as writing grants to apply for implementation funding, officials say. "I am very sensitive having been in that situation myself," Ms. Sebelius said. "It really helps to have been a governor."
Some governors say her department is underestimating the law's burden on states. "The bill raises almost 1,000 questions and so far they have zero answers," said Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels. "This is going to be a nightmare, and you would think her gubernatorial experience would have given her a good intuition for that." [My bold - JP]
While Mr. Daniels, a Republican who has been critical of the law, has political reasons for throwing cold water on it, Democratic governors' aides have privately expressed concerns in planning meetings with congressional staff. Ms. Sebelius said "we are moving as fast as we possibly can" to get states answers.
For the secretary, winning over governors is part of a broad campaign to persuade skeptics that the sweeping law will improve the nation's health system. According to a June Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, 44% of Americans called the law a bad idea, while 40% called it a good idea. -- WSJ
Where are those numbers likely to be when, come election time, there are 5,000 questions -- and only four answers? On the other hand, it's possible there won't be many questions left at all. Ed Morrissey has breaking news:
Federal judge Henry Hudson has refused to dismiss a challenge from Virginia on the constitutionality of the individual mandate in ObamaCare. The case will have to move to trial, and could imperil the entire overhaul.
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Re: States Reeling as Obamacare Burden Nears
Remember, back when the bill was first passed, companies like Verizon started to try to total up the cost and the administration (and Henry Waxman) came down on them with a fury? And then all of those brave words -- We're going to hold hearings! We're going to demand that the companies stop lying! -- fell away. Because the truth is, this messy pile of legislation is going to cost an enormous amount, and the states are going to bear the brunt of it.
Which, I think, is the Strategy Behind the Strategy: create a giant messy disaster with only one way out: the public option.
May '10
Re: States Reeling as Obamacare Burden Nears
Here's a nice flow chart of Obamacare: http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/tx08_brady/obama_chart.jpg
And an article from Bloomberg from whence comes said chart: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-02/obamacare-only-looks-worse-upon-further-review-kevin-hassett.html
It's all scary.
May '10
Re: States Reeling as Obamacare Burden Nears
My bad on the non-links. Please copy and paste.
May '10
Re: States Reeling as Obamacare Burden Nears
Remember the days when the Congressional majority answered all (or at least most) of these questions and campaigned to raise public opinion of a bill before they passed it?
Good times. Good times.
Aug '10
Re: States Reeling as Obamacare Burden Nears
Gee, Mitch, rather than complain, why don't you actually do something about it? If I remember my Con Law, the States are the ones that created the federal government, not the other way around. The States could get together through their Governors and pull in the reigns, so why haven't you (meaning, you and your fellow Governors)? Or would doing something principled such as that disqualify you within the Party from pursuing Lugar's seat when he retires?