GOP senators bring states into attack on healthcare reform

Republican senators announced a new bill Tuesday afternoon that would allow states to opt out of the most important pieces of the healthcare reform law, saying it would effectively sink President Obama’s signature legislative achievement.

Under the bill, states would have the option to back out of the requirement for individuals to purchase health insurance by 2014, requirements on large employers to provide insurance or pay a penalty, health benefit requirements and the expansion of state Medicaid programs. Ultimately, if states back out of the so-called individual mandate, not enough people would participate in the insurance pool and the reform law will fail, said co-sponsor Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

This strategy will force Congress to come back to the drawing board on healthcare reform, he said.

“The bill will fall, and we’d have to replace it with something that made more sense,” Graham said.

Graham and co-sponsor Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said their bill opens up a new front on GOP efforts to destroy the reform law. They think that most states will opt out of healthcare reform’s most essential components.

“Why are 26 states suing the federal government if they don’t think there’s a problem with this bill?” Graham said, referring to a federal judge’s decision on Monday to strike down the entire healthcare reform law. The senators believe that by allowing states to enter the healthcare debate, governors could put pressure on lawmakers.

“Governors, regardless of party, are going to come to senators and say, “We’d like to have this opportunity,’” Barrasso said. 

The senators promised to force votes on their bill throughout the year.

“If we’re going to vote on naming a post office this year, you’re going to be voting on this,” Graham said. “We’re going to bring this up every time we can.”