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| Healthcare ruling leaves Republican governors itching for a Romney win | Healthcare ruling leaves Republican governors itching for a Romney win |
| (4 months later) | |
| Many Republican governors expressed hope Friday that presidential candidate Mitt Romney will remove the dilemma facing them over healthcare reform by winning the White House election and repealing the law. | Many Republican governors expressed hope Friday that presidential candidate Mitt Romney will remove the dilemma facing them over healthcare reform by winning the White House election and repealing the law. |
| But there were also signs that governors from some of the 27 states that launched the lawsuits that led to the supreme court ruling are beginning to wobble. Instead of issuing full-throated rallying cries of defiance, as they have in the past, some admitted Friday they are reviewing their options. | But there were also signs that governors from some of the 27 states that launched the lawsuits that led to the supreme court ruling are beginning to wobble. Instead of issuing full-throated rallying cries of defiance, as they have in the past, some admitted Friday they are reviewing their options. |
| Republican governors had been holding back implementing any of the reform until the supreme court ruled, but time is running out to put in place the structures needed to comply with the law. | Republican governors had been holding back implementing any of the reform until the supreme court ruled, but time is running out to put in place the structures needed to comply with the law. |
| Bob McDonnell, the governor of Virginia and chair of the Republican governors' association, said in a conference call with reporters Friday set up by the Republican party he did not anticipate a united front by Republican governors in response to the supreme court ruling. | Bob McDonnell, the governor of Virginia and chair of the Republican governors' association, said in a conference call with reporters Friday set up by the Republican party he did not anticipate a united front by Republican governors in response to the supreme court ruling. |
| "Most governors are going to do what is right for their states," McDonnell said. He hedged his own position, saying he would be "evaluating" options over the next few weeks. | "Most governors are going to do what is right for their states," McDonnell said. He hedged his own position, saying he would be "evaluating" options over the next few weeks. |
| The dilemma facing governors centres on one of the few parts of the supreme court ruling that went in favour of the states: that the federal government could not force states to expand Medicaid, a central plank of the reform. The states now have a choice over whether to participate. | The dilemma facing governors centres on one of the few parts of the supreme court ruling that went in favour of the states: that the federal government could not force states to expand Medicaid, a central plank of the reform. The states now have a choice over whether to participate. |
| But cash-strapped governors will find it difficult to resist the carrot of the millions of dollars on offer for the expansion plan and could come under pressure from patients denied treatment because the money had been spurned. | But cash-strapped governors will find it difficult to resist the carrot of the millions of dollars on offer for the expansion plan and could come under pressure from patients denied treatment because the money had been spurned. |
| The federal government has promised to provide 100% funding for Medicaid expansion from 2014-17, 95% from 2017 to 2019 and 90% in 2020. But some Republican governors calculate that state governments still face being out of pocket. | The federal government has promised to provide 100% funding for Medicaid expansion from 2014-17, 95% from 2017 to 2019 and 90% in 2020. But some Republican governors calculate that state governments still face being out of pocket. |
| Governors also have to decide by 16 November whether to implement a healthcare insurance exchange scheme or face the prospect of the federal government enforcing it. The Obama administration describes the exchanges as marketplaces where individuals and small businesses can easily shop for coverage. | Governors also have to decide by 16 November whether to implement a healthcare insurance exchange scheme or face the prospect of the federal government enforcing it. The Obama administration describes the exchanges as marketplaces where individuals and small businesses can easily shop for coverage. |
| The federal government's health and human services department, stepping up the pressure on the states Friday, offered new opportunities for states to apply for federal funding to set up the exchanges. | The federal government's health and human services department, stepping up the pressure on the states Friday, offered new opportunities for states to apply for federal funding to set up the exchanges. |
| In the conference call, McDonnell said he had not canvassed opinion yet among Republican governors over how they intended to respond to the supreme court ruling. | In the conference call, McDonnell said he had not canvassed opinion yet among Republican governors over how they intended to respond to the supreme court ruling. |
| There may be a parallel with 2009, when many Republican governors made public rallying cries saying they would not accept any of the stimulus money on offer from Obama to help pull the US from recession. Within a year, most of the refuseniks had quietely accepted the cash. | There may be a parallel with 2009, when many Republican governors made public rallying cries saying they would not accept any of the stimulus money on offer from Obama to help pull the US from recession. Within a year, most of the refuseniks had quietely accepted the cash. |
| McDonnell, who has been mentioned as a potential vice-presidential running-mate for Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney, argued that Virginia could suffer a net loss as a result of healthcare reform and it could blow a hole in the state's budget. But he did not rule out accepting the federal money. | McDonnell, who has been mentioned as a potential vice-presidential running-mate for Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney, argued that Virginia could suffer a net loss as a result of healthcare reform and it could blow a hole in the state's budget. But he did not rule out accepting the federal money. |
| On Thursday, McDonnell said that while he was disappointed with the supreme court ruling, state officials were working "to ensure Virginia implements this flawed law in the most effective and least costly and burdensome way possible". | On Thursday, McDonnell said that while he was disappointed with the supreme court ruling, state officials were working "to ensure Virginia implements this flawed law in the most effective and least costly and burdensome way possible". |
| The Republican governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, another vocal critic of the reform, said he would not do anything to "implement Obamacare" but did not specify whether he would stand out against Medicaid expansion. | The Republican governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, another vocal critic of the reform, said he would not do anything to "implement Obamacare" but did not specify whether he would stand out against Medicaid expansion. |
| "Here in Louisiana we have not applied for the grants, we have not accepted many of these dollars, we're not implementing the exchanges," Jindal said on the conference call. "We don't think it makes any sense to implement Obamacare in Louisiana. We're going to do what we can to fight it." | "Here in Louisiana we have not applied for the grants, we have not accepted many of these dollars, we're not implementing the exchanges," Jindal said on the conference call. "We don't think it makes any sense to implement Obamacare in Louisiana. We're going to do what we can to fight it." |
| Republican governor John Kasich, of Ohio, another of the 27 states to have launched lawsuits against the Affordable Care Act, in a press release issued Thursday said he was taking time to study the supreme court decision. "The administration will carefully analyse the decision to determine the appropriate next steps. We are very concerned that a sudden, dramatic increase in Medicaid spending could threaten Ohio's ability to pursue needed reforms in other areas, such as education," Kasich said. | Republican governor John Kasich, of Ohio, another of the 27 states to have launched lawsuits against the Affordable Care Act, in a press release issued Thursday said he was taking time to study the supreme court decision. "The administration will carefully analyse the decision to determine the appropriate next steps. We are very concerned that a sudden, dramatic increase in Medicaid spending could threaten Ohio's ability to pursue needed reforms in other areas, such as education," Kasich said. |
| Florida's Republican governor Rick Scott, one of the leading opponents of Obama's healthcare reform, has so far refused to implement. He said he needs time to evaluate the supreme court decision. "I've got to read through the decision and make sure we understand it," Scott said. | Florida's Republican governor Rick Scott, one of the leading opponents of Obama's healthcare reform, has so far refused to implement. He said he needs time to evaluate the supreme court decision. "I've got to read through the decision and make sure we understand it," Scott said. |
| Scott Walker, the Republican governor of Wisconsin, said he will not put in place any of the measures associated with the reform until he sees the outcome of the November election. | Scott Walker, the Republican governor of Wisconsin, said he will not put in place any of the measures associated with the reform until he sees the outcome of the November election. |
| The attorney-general of Texas, whose governor Rick Perry has been a steadfast opponent of the reform, welcomed the supreme court giving states the choice of whether to expand Medicaid. | The attorney-general of Texas, whose governor Rick Perry has been a steadfast opponent of the reform, welcomed the supreme court giving states the choice of whether to expand Medicaid. |
| "It does mean Texas now has the option – the choice – where it can make its own decision whether or not to expand its Medicaid programme, or to abide by the current limits on Medicaid," the attorney-general Greg Abbott said. | "It does mean Texas now has the option – the choice – where it can make its own decision whether or not to expand its Medicaid programme, or to abide by the current limits on Medicaid," the attorney-general Greg Abbott said. |
| The Republican governor of Georgia, Nathan Deal, is waiting for the outcome of the November election. "We are probably just going to be in a holding pattern until such time as we see what the events of November bring us," AP reported Deal telling a press conference on Thursday. He was non-commital on the issue of Medicaid expansion. | The Republican governor of Georgia, Nathan Deal, is waiting for the outcome of the November election. "We are probably just going to be in a holding pattern until such time as we see what the events of November bring us," AP reported Deal telling a press conference on Thursday. He was non-commital on the issue of Medicaid expansion. |
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