Boehner and Cantor Demand Inclusion of Governors in Health Care Summit

Strategic Insights -

Ohio Rep. John Boehner and Republican Whip Eric Cantor have written a letter to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, expressing concern that the White House's planned health care summit on February 25 may exclude the views of state officials. Boehner and Cantor point out that legislation to "opt out" of Obamacare has been introduced in 36 states, and that governors from both parties have raised concerns about the added costs that will be passed along to states under both the House and Senate bills.

Key Takeaways:

  • Congressman John Boehner and Republican Whip Eric Cantor have sent a letter to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, requesting that governors and state legislators be included in the planned health care summit on February 25.
  • Legislation to "opt out" of Obamacare has been introduced in 36 states, highlighting the opposition to the federal health care bills in the states.
  • Governors of both parties have raised concerns about the additional costs that will be passed along to states under both the House and Senate bills.
  • Boehner has launched the GOP State Solutions project, an initiative aimed at highlighting solutions put forth by reform-minded governors and state officials outside the Beltway.
  • The project has been working with state officials, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), and grass-roots activists to advance state-level legislation declaring individual citizens' freedom against intrusive health care mandates from the federal government.
  • Reps. Devin Nunes and Mike Rogers are also part of the project, along with Boehner.

Statistics:

  • 36 states have introduced legislation to "opt out" of Obamacare.
  • The additional costs that will be passed along to states under both the House and Senate bills are a major concern for governors of both parties.
  • The GOP State Solutions project has been working with state officials, ALEC, and grass-roots activists to advance state-level legislation.
  • 808 (or so) statutory changes proposed in the paper

Sources:

  • The office of Ohio Rep. John Boehner
  • The letter sent by Boehner and Cantor to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel
  • A statement released by White House press secretary Robert Gibbs