The state has still not given its approval for the Governor’s new health insurance marketplace.
Governor Rick Snyder has made yet another attempt to step forward in the state’s healthcare reforms by trying to obtain approval for a new health insurance market in Michigan, but this has once again been denied.
The struggle in the state over the changes that must be made to the system is nowhere near over.
The Republican-led Senate in Michigan was quick to stand behind the governor’s state created and operated health insurance exchange, as a part of the federal healthcare reforms. This has was accomplished in 2011, in order to provide the state with more power over a central element of the changes that would be made the system when the individual mandate goes into effect.
However, the Republicans in the House have firmly opposed the healthcare reforms that have been proposed.
This was the case throughout all of 2012, even after the law was upheld by the Supreme Court, and when President Obama was reelected. Governor Snyder’s Plan B had been a proposal for a partnership website that would give the state some say, but that would make the health insurance marketplace nearly entirely federally run.
To that, the House gave its approval to spend $31 million in federal funds for the healthcare reforms, as it is clear that this law will not be going anywhere. However, it now appears that the support that had once been firm in the Senate, among the Republicans, is beginning to fade away.
Senator Mike Green (R-Nashville), explained that “I just won’t play their shell game. I won’t drink their Kool-Aid. I won’t agree to take their funny money.” This is a complete 180 for Senator Green, who had voted in favor of an exchange in November 2011.
As mounting pressure continues from conservatives and tea party groups, the leadership in the Senate might have to step away from tradition and send the governor the spending measure. Unless there is support from a majority of the majority party for a certain legislation, votes aren’t usually allowed to take place.
During the first round, there had been a narrow support for the healthcare reforms by the Republicans, at 13 to 12. Now it looks as though the Republicans may have changed directions and could be more opposed to it than in favor. All 12 of the Democrats had been in favor.
