One House Republican wants to create the state health insurance exchange required by the federal health care reform law for fear the feds will do it for Texas.

Another has filed a bill that would make his colleague’s efforts — really, those of anyone trying to implement “Obamacare” in Texas — illegal.

Meanwhile, early versions of the Republican-written state budget include cost-saving pilot programs like medical payment reform, with little mention that they are key components of the much-maligned federal health care law.

It is an uncomfortable balancing act: Republican lawmakers hate few things more (perhaps the Environmental Protection Agency) than ...

Full Story