Haley: Obama might let S.C. opt out of health care

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Republican Gov.-elect Nikki Haley said President Barack Obama agreed Thursday to consider letting South Carolina opt out of this year's federal health care overhaul if the state comes up with its own solutions to meet some of the important conditions of the national legislation.

Haley was among a group of newly elected governors - most of them Republicans - who met with the Democratic president at the Blair House, the guest house across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House.

Haley says she told Obama that South Carolina could not afford the health care mandate, and that it would cripple small businesses.

"I respectfully asked him to consider repealing the bill," she said, to which he clearly stated he would not. "I pushed him further and said if that's the case, because of states' rights, would you at least consider South Carolina opting out of the program?"

Read more: http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/12/03/1848003/haley-obama-might-let-sc-opt-out.html

[Deep13]

1. Feel free to royally screw the residents of SC.

Thanks, Obama.

[TwilightGardener]

3. I'm confused. Is HCR good or bad this week?

[Deep13]

5. It's better than nothing.

It's inadequate, but helpful.

[No Elephants]

12. Bad, but Haley probably has something even worse in mind.

[molly77]

20. HCR is still bad. People in SC who can't afford health care won't have to buy in.

And there are plenty of them there. If you drive around SC , it is very very sad.

[dflprincess]

22. Health care reform would have been good -

an insurance bailout is bad and always has been.

We needed access to care, we got a mandate to buy the same crappy products from the same old crooks.

[area51]

27. +1 n/t

[Iowa]

30. +2

[BenzoDia]

11. Well they have to come up with a better alternative first that at least provides

the same base line care. This can open opportunities for more progressive states to try out even better systems. As Senator Leahy in Vermont put it, "The way the law is written almost begs for some areas of experimentation, provided you still have the basic protections that were written into it."

[No Elephants]

14. In theory. Not likely in S,C. in reality.

[displacedvermoter]

24. The "have to"?

I don't know how to do the "laughing at you" thingee, sorry.

[BenzoDia]

26. Yes, states can get waivers if the coverage is just as good or better, is provided

through exchanges, is as affordable, and will cover as many people as the federal one.

[displacedvermoter]

29. South Carolina?

As good as or better!!! Affordable???

Still no laughing thingee, and looking to see how this will be enforced.

[Renew Deal]

35. Why do you assume she's telling the truth?

I have a feeling this isn't what was said.

[Safetykitten]

2. 49 to go.

[Hosnon]

4. If HCR ends up being effective at reducing costs, this might not be a bad trend.

Let states opt out and then their citizens will start complaining about the high price they have to pay because of their GOP leaders' decisions to screw them.

[n2doc]

6. Won't work in SC

They like being screwed by the rich. And it is the same over here in Georgia as well. So long as someone says "Obama is against it" people down here will accept anything.

[Hosnon]

10. It's worth a shot. (I'm in Georgia - and NOT in Atlanta, haha). nt.

[still_one]

7. Without regard to the merits or demerits of HCR, if this story is true, which I question, then HCR

is history

Like Social Security or Medicare, if any state could opt out then it will collapse

[Fearless]

8. Compromise some more Mr. President.

What exactly is this tactic supposed to do anyways?

[Winterblues]

9. This is coming from a Republican so I doubt there is much truth to it

If Obama were to let one state out, he would have to let any and all states out and then the Bill would be useless..I call bullshit on the entire story.

[Godhumor]

15. Not just a Republican but one of the Bachmann-esque crazy ones

I think Obama's real answer was in the "I'm not repealing it" part, for sure.

[Davis_X_Machina]

13. State opt-out was put in the bill...

...by, among others, Senators Sanders and Wyden, precisely to allow the creation of single-payer systems at the state level. The level of coverage that is acceptable in a state plan is stipulated.

Both staunch conservatives, of course. Especially that Sanders guy.

[No Elephants]

16. Um what does Sanders and Wyden allowing single payer opt outs have to do with this thread?

[Davis_X_Machina]

17. Gov. The Fabulous Nikki...

... is talking about exactly that opt-out.

She can't do it, won't do it, but it gives her a talking point.

[No Elephants]

23. Single payer? What benefits will her plan offer? A tongue depressor in every home?

[BenzoDia]

18. Too right, man. Federal Healthcare reform is only the beginning of the changes, not the end.

[Davis_X_Machina]

28. Good news: The HC millenium will come. Bad News: It'll only come...

...one (non-crazy, non-f*cked-in-the-head) state at a time, though.

Federalism. Can't live with it, can't do jack without it.

[CBHagman]

37. Thanks, Davis.

And of course the story mentioned the conditions for opting out, which several on this thread have passed over.

[indypaul]

19. Only if they agree NOT to fire on Fort Sumter again.

I thought nullification was settled under Andrew Jackson. Proof once again
that South Carolina is too small to be a sovereign nation and too large to
be an insane asylum.

[Iliyah]

21. California VA's

health care must be pretty good b/c a lot of veterans come here for the coverage. I see in Blue states and great many Red state people coming across the borders for quaility health care.

[nyy1998]

25. Obama considers it, and then tells Haley to STFU and learn something about this issue

[WorseBeforeBetter]

31. So not his style, but nice projection. (n/t)

[nyy1998]

33. It's just a paraphrase ;)

[Tx4obama]

32. She ''asked him to consider repealing the bill'' LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL :) n/t

[Renew Deal]

34. Somehow I doubt this matches with reality.

[DeadEyeDyck]

36. If SC opts out

the entire HRC will unravel like a cheap sweater. It will open up the door to any state opting out that wants too. States that are taking this to the SCOTUS will have standing, for sure. "You honor, how can the fine state of Texas be mandated to require its citizens to buy health insurance when other states are not required?"

The is the camel nose under the tent.

Oh yeah, by whose standard is a plan "as good as".