Don’t underestimate Republicans’ desire to stymie or unwind the health care law. But not all of them are as committed to its demise as Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), who yesterday issued an executive order forbidding his state’s officials from applying for grant money from the new law.
It turns out that seven of the states — Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Nevada — that have applied and been approved for subsidies to cover the cost of caring for retired state government employees are also part of a coalition of more than 20 states suing the federal government over the constitutionality of the health care law’s individual mandate, which experts say is critical to the success of the policy. Minnesota’s attorney general, Lori Swanson (D), refused to join to Pawlenty’s displeasure.
“Congress approved health care reform and the president signed it into law. [Indiana] Gov. [Mitch] Daniels does not agree with it, but Indiana will seek funds that help Hoosiers when there are no complicated strings or costs attached,” his press secretary Jane Jankowski told the Associated Press.
It’ll be interesting to see how strongly the governors of these states object when Republicans try to defund the law if they take control of the House and/or Senate in November.
Brian Beutler
Brian Beutler is TPM's senior congressional reporter. Since 2009, he's led coverage of health care reform, Wall Street reform, taxes, the GOP budget, the government shutdown fight, and the debt limit fight. He can be reached at brian@talkingpointsmemo.com.
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