In the final part of my three part interview with Governor Nikki Haley, we discussed how the subject of gun control found it’s way into the health care debate and the question of South Carolina’s role going forward in the fight against Obamacare.
In the recent executive actions Obama signed, one was to “clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.” Obviously the idea of gun inquires at the doctor’s office has many people nervous. I asked Governor Haley why she thought the issue of guns was included in health care legislation.
That is so ridiculous. I mean that is so ridiculous that you are going to your doctor to talk about your healthcare and he wants to know about whether you own a gun or not. It is something that shows how far away we have gotten from the focus. If you care about someone’s healthcare, then you should care about their healthcare. If you care about someone’s second amendment rights, then you ask them that in a different venue. But to bring someone into a medical facility and ask them if they have a gun is irresponsible and it’s not something, it’s totally conflicting from where they say their goal is, which is to get people healthy.
The last subject of our talk concerned the future of the fight against Obamacare. As many are saying the states will be the final battleground against the federal government trying to takeover healthcare, I asked Governor Haley if that is a fight SC wants to be a part of.
That is a fight South Carolina is already a part of and we will be and it goes along with everything else with DC. States do what states do best when they are allowed the flexability to take care of their citizens. States who have poor outcomes are the ones who are mandated by DC on what they think is best. They can’t manage their own fiscal health, they can’t manage their own budgets, they don’t need to be telling states how to do it because the states are balancing our budgets, we’re managing our debt, we are taking care of things. So, you don’t listen to a prisoner on how to be successful, it’s the same thing with the states; we are already having success why would we go to something that is broken to tell us how to do our jobs?
The resistance from the states is obviously not sitting well with the Obama administration. Their initial reaction was to extend the deadline for states to set up exchanges. However when that deadline, in early December 2012, was approaching with no change in position from the states in question, the administration attempted to turn up the heat. The federal government established new rules at the end of November 2012 dictating insurance companies will be charged additional fees for plans sold through the federal insurance exchange; as opposed to plans sold through those states with their own exchanges. Of course insurance companies, who will already be struggling in competing with ObamaCare’s endless taxpayer provided money supply, will be forced to pass along the new taxes to their consumers who reside in states that do not have a state exchange. In this way, the Obama administration sought to punish the states for not doing as they were told; revealing, at best, a complete misunderstanding of economics and, at worst, a lack of concern for citizens having any choice in their healthcare. With the states holding strong against implementing state exchanges, the federal government gave in and waived the exchange deadline all-together. Currently, the administration is seeking to push the idea of “partnership exchanges” with states that have not set up state exchanges. The date for agreement to their newest plan is set for February 15, however it is doubtful the states will comply.
Instead, governors like Nikki Haley intend on continuing to fight back and, in doing so, Americans will end up with better healthcare than ObamaCare could possibly provide. For citizens, the next step is urging states to join the resistance to help America move in the right direction for our nation’s healthcare. The fight to prevent this massive government overreach is not lost; It is in fact, only beginning.
Cross-posted at FreedomWorks
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