ALEC State Legislators Warn Boehner That ObamaCare Will Cost States Big If Not Repealed
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 7, 2011) – The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) National Chairman Noble Ellington (R-LA) and Health Care Task Force Chair Linda Upmeyer (R-IA) sent a letter on behalf of all ALEC legislative members to Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner (R-OH) today applauding his leadership to repeal the costly Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare).
“ALEC is grateful for Speaker Boehner’s leadership to repeal the costly Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and replace the legislation with affordable, sustainable, patient-centered, and market-driven health policy reforms. As a former state legislator and ALEC alumni, he knows the tremendous financial burden that ObamaCare places on the states,” said Ellington.
The letter emphasizes budget-busting Medicaid expansion, coupled with a “maintenance of effort” requirement, which will force states to slash other funding priorities, like education or law enforcement; and federal takeover of health insurance regulation, which has traditionally been the purview of states, and will require states to expend limited state resources to comply with the new law.
Ellington and Upmeyer’s letter goes on to say that with a stagnant economy, declining tax revenues, and looming budget cuts in other areas, the states simply cannot afford ObamaCare. True to ALEC form and principles, the letter also encourages the House leader to replace the Act with reforms that protect individual rights and allows states to implement innovative policies that are responsive to local needs and budgets.
In December 2008, ALEC adopted as model legislation the Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act, which helps states block a government requirement to purchase health insurance. Now 42 states have either introduced or announced that they will introduce ALEC’s Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act. Six states (Virginia, Idaho, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, and Missouri) passed the ALEC model as a statute, and two states (Arizona and Oklahoma) passed the model as a constitutional amendment. An active citizen initiative is also underway in Mississippi.
The American Legislative Exchange Council is the nation’s largest nonpartisan individual membership association of state legislators, with nearly 2,000 legislative members across the country and over 100 alumni members in Congress.
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Ellington is a long-time member of ALEC and has served on the executive board of directors for nearly a decade. A commodities merchant, he began his political career in the Louisiana state House of Representatives from 1988 to 1995 before winning election to the Senate, where he served from 1996 to 2007. Term limits prevented him from running again in the Senate, and in 2007 Ellington rejoined the House in his former seat.
Linda Upmeyer is a cardiology nurse practitioner and was first elected to the Iowa House in 2002. As an Iowa legislator, Linda serves in the Republican Leadership as the Majority Leader. She serves on the Human Resources, Natural Resources, Economic Growth, and Administrative Rules Review Committees. Linda also serves on the Leadership Council and International Relations committees.