{"id":16464,"date":"2013-03-21T13:37:29","date_gmt":"2013-03-21T19:37:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/idaho\/?p=16464"},"modified":"2013-04-10T14:36:03","modified_gmt":"2013-04-10T20:36:03","slug":"a-state-based-health-insurance-exchange-passes-the-idaho-legislature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/idaho\/2013\/03\/21\/a-state-based-health-insurance-exchange-passes-the-idaho-legislature\/","title":{"rendered":"State-Based Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passes The Idaho Legislature, Heads To Governor"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Emilie Ritter Saunders \/ StateImpact<\/p>

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Idaho lawmakers fundamentally opposed to the federal health care law made a final effort to convince their colleagues to reject a state-based health insurance exchange<\/a>, but to no avail. The bill<\/a> which will create a state-based online insurance marketplace passed the Senate 23-12, sending the measure to Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter who is sure to sign it into law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In a statement released shortly after the vote, Gov. Otter praised the Legislature for their work on passing his plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know this wasn\u2019t easy, not for the Legislature and not for me. Nonetheless, I appreciate the civility and quality of debate that\u2019s taken place on this issue in both the House and Senate,” Otter said.<\/p>\n

The governor added that the passage of the health insurance exchange bill will enable him to do what he believes is right for Idahoans. “Of course we share strong objections to Obamacare, but as responsible elected officials we also are committed to constructively working together for the best possible outcomes for Idaho,” said Otter. “I\u2019m grateful for that collaboration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Senators who debated against the bill include Russ Fulcher (R-Meridian), Sheryl Nuxoll (R-Cottonwood), Bob Nonini (R-Coeur d’Alene), Steve Vick (R-Dalton Gardens), and Monty Pearce (R-New Plymouth). Each took turns reiterating their disdain for the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Most said a vote in favor of a state-based health exchange is a vote in favor of the federal law.<\/p>\n

Sen. Nonini said he put on the darkest clothes he could find today because passing the exchange bill is like mourning. “I believe this is a dark day for Idaho,” Sen. Nonini said. “This is a dark day in this building. I\u2019m just so frustrated by this. I feel like I\u2019m in mourning. We\u2019re losing something here this morning. We are losing our freedom. We are giving up our sovereignty to the federal government.”<\/p>\n

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