Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Health Insurance Exchanges and the GOD Law

SB-200, the law that will establish Colorado’s health insurance exchange in compliance with ObamaCare has passed the general assembly and is on its way to the governor’s desk for signature.  I was at the committee hearing where it passed its final vote before being rushed through the final passage in the house and senate.

Those arguing in favor of the bill repeatedly stressed that this is our opportunity to create a uniquely Colorado exchange.  If we don’t, the federal government will step in and do it for us.  Yet those same testifiers told us that we must pass this bill now because if we don’t show significant progress toward creating an exchange that is acceptable to the federal Department of Health and Human Services by January 1, 2013, the feds will take over the job for us.

Therein lies the weakness of the argument.  Our exchange must meet the federal government’s standards.  The law (ObamaCare) mandates that the exchanges cannot be less restrictive than the federal government’s requirements.  That leaves one option for making it “uniquely Colorado” – make it more restrictive than the federal requirements.  We will at best have a program that mimics what the federal government would do.  At worst it will include more mandates that raise the cost of health insurance.

Majority Leader Stephens has said that "conservatives at all levels have touted the free market virtues of healthcare exchanges..."  But that is a mischaracterization of what conservatives promote.  The Heartland Institute for example says, “Encourage the creation of private exchanges (emphasis mine). Small, medium, and large businesses, trade associations, and civic associations should be able to set up their own market based insurance exchanges to offer their employees and members a wide range of possible insurance alternatives.” And that is the last of their eleven recommendations for healthcare reform.

State run insurance exchanges are required by ObamaCare. Without them, ObamaCare cannot be implemented.  States that comply are assisting in a federal takeover of our health care system.  ObamaCare is one of the two most dangerous policy issues facing America, the other being EPA regulation of carbon dioxide. Our State Attorney General sued the feds over the constitutionality of ObamaCare. Our compliance with SB-200 is legitimization of ObamaCare, essentially giving the keys to the federal government. If we allow ObamaCare to stand, the government will have power over every aspect of our lives.  The economic liberty and protection of private property that made America the greatest country in history will be over.

Representative Riesberg (D- Greeley) objected to the use of the term ObamaCare during testimony. Because of the immeasurable harm to our economy and liberty that ObamaCare will cause, I would suggest a new term – The GOD Law.  Game Over, Dude.

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