Democratic governors nervous about health plan

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By THOMAS BEAUMONT and SCOTT BAUER

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Democratic governors say they are nervous about getting the new federal health care law implemented but add they will be better positioned in next year's elections than many of their Republican counterparts who have resisted the far-reaching and politically polarizing measure.

Several of the 12 Democratic governors shared that sense of nervousness-veiled-by-optimism at the National Governors Association meeting Saturday in Milwaukee.

"There's some angst, and you can see that from the decision the administration made a couple weeks ago," said Delaware Gov. Jack Markell. "There's a lot of work to do."

By next Jan. 1, most people will be required to have insurance. States have to set up exchanges by Oct. 1, when uninsured individuals can start buying subsidized private health coverage that would go into effect Jan 1, and businesses with more than 50 employees working 30 or more hours a week were supposed to offer affordable health care to their workers or risk a series of escalating tax penalties.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130804/DA7UQ1R83.html

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Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin gives a thumbs up after riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle to the motorcycle museum Friday, August, 2, 2013 in Milwaukee. The National Governors Association is meeting in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

[MADem]

1. They need to talk to Deval Patrick from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

He'll tell them they have nothing to fear.

[msongs]

3. worked fine as a romney care did it not? nt

[area51]

12. Did it work fine?

GingrichCare is the same thing as RmoneyCare; forcing people to buy lightly regulated insurance and no public option; a republican's wet dream. There are still people in MA w/o insurance, and even for people w/insurance, insurance doesn't necessarily mean you'll get health care.

[cstanleytech]

2. They really need to close that 30 hour loophole as companies are

just cutting their workers hours to 20 or 25 a week to weasel out of it.

[former9thward]

6. How would you close it?

If someone worked 1 hour a week would you require employers to provide them with healthcare?

[cstanleytech]

9. Easy, link the corporate tax rate to the gap between the lowest earning worker

and the highest paid person in the company and pay includes any perks and or retirement options including stock options even if they arent exercised at that time by someone.
The bigger the gap in pay the bigger the tax the company pays.

[former9thward]

10. That is a different issue than the insurance mandate.

If the line is not 30 then what? 20? 10?

[cstanleytech]

11. Actually the to go hand in hand because

employers would have to decide what they want more to give their workers more hours and better pay or pay a higher corporate tax that gets progressively higher the bigger the gap in pay.

[boomerbust]

4. While Republican governors are destroying this country

The Democratic governors are nervous. Thats a real plan for victory.

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. Thats the governor of Oklahoma?

I'm impressed!

[azbillyboy]

7. News Flash

Democratic governors need to grow a set (or if female, a spine). Jesus. When are we going to stop quivering like fucking jello?

[freshwest]

8. My Dem governor isn't nervous about and it's saving us money here.