More States Trying to Get Around Implementation of Health Law

While the U.S. House works to defund the health care law, more states are attempting to avoid implementing it.

Ohio Republicans are well on their way to getting a state constitutional amendment barring implementation of the individual mandate in the state on the November 8 election ballot. Supporters have until July to submit their petition for an amendment with more than 385,000 signatures of registered voters. Ohio Liberty Council leader Chris Littleton told the Dayton Daily News that the organization has already collected 305,000 and expects to reach 500,000 by the deadline.

The New Hampshire House will take up a bill on Wednesday that would require the state to send back any money it receives from the federal government for implementing the health care law. House Speaker William O’Brien told the Associated Press that it did not make sense for the state to take the money, because the law could be invalidated.

Challenges to or measures opposing the health care law are pending in more than 30 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Twenty-six states have signed on to the Florida lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of the law. About 12 states have introduced legislation to enter into interstate compacts as a way to circumvent it.

U.S. House Republicans on Tuesday voted to deny $1.9 billion in grants to fund the health insurance exchanges where individuals and small businesses can purchase coverage. The bill passed along party lines and will likely fail in the Democrat-led Senate. The House is expected to vote on Wednesday to bar funding for construction of health care centers in schools. 

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