Before Health Exchange Deadline, Perry Reaffirms Stance
Ahead of a Friday deadline to decide, Gov. Rick Perry’s office has reaffirmed that Texas will not implement a major tenet of federal health reform — a state-based online marketplace for consumers to purchase coverage.
That means the federal government will have to roll out a program for Texas instead. Every state must have an exchange by 2014, the year “Obamacare” — which many Republicans had hoped would be repealed if Mitt Romney won the presidency — requires most Americans to carry coverage.
Allison Castle, Perry’s spokeswoman, said Texas won’t design its own exchange because there is “really no such ...
Comments (14)
Brittany Thompson
I have never felt more relief regarding a Perry decision.
j rangel
Another reason to throw him out of office. He is an embarrassment to the state and he now uses faulty logic in rejecting an opportunity for all Texas to get health insurance. Perry will not be happy until all children do not attend school, all families do not have health insurance and his friends get rich. Enough!
Kellye Norris
Works for me. I currently have a policy via the Affordable Care Act. I pay a bit more than $400 a month for really good coverage with a reasonable deductible and solid prescription drug benefits. If I'd gotten a policy in Texas' current high-risk pool, I would have had to pay nearly $1300 a month -- no, that's not a typo -- for mediocre coverage with a high deductible and minimal prescription drug benefits. I have been worried that Perry would create a program that, like the high-risk pool, priced most people out, just to "prove" that Obamacare didn't work.
Mack Green
Unfortunately there is more than one "monkey" in this healthcare circus. I predict that the State will not lift a hand to to aid the Feds in setting up our state exchange allowing Perry and pal$ free rein to criticize the entire program. I expect the criticism will be written before the exchange is even designed. I'm curious to see how much lower the states non-insured population rating will fall compared to the rest of the U.S. as this circus stays in session.
Another 99%
Perry's style and form of politics, are not acceptable in the US of A. I am sure Texas insurance will end up costing more than anyone elses nationwide, and be flawed.
Perry cares about Perry, and no one else. The Texas GOP is rotten, and needs to be removed.
Jerry Andrews
And so by refusing to set up a state run exchange, Perry cedes control to the Feds permanently. Cutting off his nose to spite his face comes to mind. Considering Texas officials refusal to properly fund schools, Medicaid and mental healthcare, its probably best that the do nothing that doesn't directly benefit corporate welfare recipients Texas government stay out of the ACA business.
Rudy Gonzales
High time for Perry to go, exit stage extreme right.(wrong for Texas) This career politician has truly outstayed his welcome. Incompetence on steroids. There will be a state Health Insurance exchange set up by the feds and Perry and the TEA-Republican's will still fight it as they will have no ability to get their power brokers into these exchanges to suck up money. The 25% of Texans without coverage will get their chance when federal types come in and get it done! The new federal exchange swill further level the playing field and that monkey Garnet Coleman talked about will soon be put out of office.
Fred Talmadge
Everything Perry does for the next 4 years will be done solely for a Presidential bid in 2016.
Ruben Trevino
I am thrilled to ready your comments and gives me some piece of mind that I'm not the only one disgusted with how our state government is spending our tax dollars. I sit on our local school board and own and operate a healthcare facility in the state of Texas. As you know, both areas have been hit hard in our state. We have got to pull together and get him out of office. Our schools and healthcare depends on it.
Meme Me
re:"Kellye Norris -Works for me. I currently have a policy via the Affordable Care Act. I pay a bit more than $400 a month for really good coverage with a reasonable deductible and solid prescription drug benefits."
The problem lies with millions of illegal aliens who will not pay for healthcare. Who do you think will pay for their healthcare policy premiums? They've been double dipping since the day they arrived...They collect their cash and then use our medicaid or just hit the emergency rooms...
It's just like auto insurance, only the citizens have to buy it...
Lillie Goodman
How does this idiotic moron keep getting re-elected? Although, I am relieved to know his sticky palms wont be in the pot. However, I don't doubt he will find a way to fist a few million whle giving the citizens of Texas the finger --again.
Christine Lund
Yes. Don't let that man do anything else. Everything he touches goes to he!!. I won't even admit living here if I can avoid it. It's embarrassing to have to admit I'm from Texas. I used to be so proud of being a Texan and now I have to explain that the Bush family is not from Texas. I have to tell people, I just don't know what is the matter with our Governor. I can't even begin to defend our lack of a humane prison system or our backwater education system. I thought the jokes about my Ozark roots were rough to take but I am amazed at some of the ignorant people in this state. And they want to be a free standing country. We cannot even take care of our citizens with the huge umbrella of help from the federal government. What has happened to this state? In the seventies, I knew many real Texans and everyone of them impressed me. Such ladies and gentlemen. Where did they go?
David Squire
Of course Govenor you realize that oppressing the poor by trying to deny them health coverage under Obamacare could come back to haunt you. Oppress enough poor people as they watch their elderly parents being kicked out of nursing homes to the streets, oh well they may take to the streets and revolt, and shooting them down will lead to further revolt. Eventually they'll be knocking at your door if you know what I mean. You've thrown the first volley of class warfare against those less fortunate than you. How ironic it is that you probably have the state pay your medical bills, you will have to answer for your decisions against the poor people in the future. In what way I can't say.
Marcia Martin
I'm glad Perry is not rolling over for this stupid health care plan. I can't believe anyone is happy with this monstrosity coming down the pike that will enslave us all and give the IRS access to our bank accounts and every move we make. What happened to self reliance and preparing for a rainy day. I'm not embarrassed to be from Texas. Common sense has left the building on this forum. Don't use the poor as your excuse. In case you have forgotten we are land of opportunity.