"Health Care Showdown: Obama Administration Calls Out GOP Governors"

[Clio the Leo]

Health Care Showdown: Obama Administration Calls Out GOP Governors
Sam Stein, 02/ 7/11

The Obama administration is showing political tough love with Republican governors who criticized both the constitutionality and funding of the president's signature health care legislation.

On Monday, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs called out GOP leaders who were bemoaning the law -- and threatening to ignore its provisions -- while still taking the funds needed for implementation. Adding a bit of intrigue to the matter, Gibbs hinted that the White House would address some of the top Republican critics during an upcoming conference of governors later this month.

"he implementation of this important law is moving forward," said the departing spokesman. "I don't know that we have had specific outreach . I know the governor's association is in town later this month, but our policy has and continues to be that implementation moves forward."

In private, heath care policy operatives say, the administration's message has been even more direct. As Republican governors back lawsuits against the legislation, and threaten to return money budgeted for it, the president's team has let it be known that, absent state action, the onus lies on the federal government to implement the law.

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The threat of federal intervention is more motivating than any other card the administration has or can play, and it is felt most acutely with respect to the state-based exchanges, which are required to be operational by 2014.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/07/obama-gop-governors-health-care_n_819926.html

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