BOISE, Id – The new federal health care law says states need a health insurance exchange. Supporters of a state-run exchange say without one, the federal government will step in and Idaho will become part of a national exchange. Now one state lawmaker is offering a solution.
Representative Bob Nonini doesn’t like the idea of a state-run health insurance exchange.
Bob Nonini “I’m gonna say no, not just no, but heck no.”
The Republican chairman of the House Education Committee dislikes the idea so much, he’s sponsoring a resolution that would put the problem of exchanges in the lap of insurance companies. Nonini says the insurance industry could create its own exchange, using the website Travelocity as a model.
Bob Nonini “And it’s not government run, it’s not government sponsored, but you can go onto a website, you can shop for airline tickets, you can shop for hotel room reservations and purchase those and I don’t know what is stopping the insurance industry from going out and doing their own exchange.”
Democrat Brian Cronin called the resolution mind-boggling.
Brian Cronin “The notion that we’re now going to put forth the resolution that says that the private insurance companies should solve this problem, when they don’t even support this resolution, is absolutely absurd.”
The other Democrats on the Education Committee agreed with Cronin but were outnumbered by Republicans. The committee voted to introduce the resolution. It will likely be sent to the House Health and Welfare Committee.
Copyright 2012 BSPR
