Obama: Hey, on Second Thought Maybe States Can Opt Out of ObamaCare’s Individual Mandate — UPDATE: Tells Liberals Change Could Lead to Single-Payer System…
Oh my.
WASHINGTON — Seeking to appease disgruntled governors, President Obama announced Monday that he supported amending the 2010 health care law to allow states to opt out of its most burdensome requirements three years earlier than currently permitted.
In remarks to the National Governors Association, Mr. Obama said he backed legislation that would enable states to request federal permission to withdraw from the law’s mandates in 2014 rather than in 2017 as long as they could prove that they could find other ways to cover as many people as the original law would and at the same cost. The earlier date is when many of the act’s central provisions take effect, including requirements that most individuals obtainhealth insurance and that employers of a certain size offer coverage to workers or pay a penalty.
“I think that’s a reasonable proposal; I support it,” Mr. Obama told the governors, who were gathered in the State Dining Room of the White House.
“It will give you flexibility more quickly while still guaranteeing the American people reform.”
The announcement is the first time Mr. Obama has called for changing a central component of his signature health care law, although he has backed removing a specific tax provision that both parties regard as onerous on business. The shift comes as the law is under fierce attack in the courts and from Republicans on Capitol Hill and in statehouses around the country.
Update: And he wonders why nobody trusts him.
(Politico) — Jennifer Haberkorn reports that President Obama’s move to allow states flexibility in spending health care funds is the “most significant change” since the law was enacted, and a potential gesture toward critics.
But a source on a White House conference call with liberal allies this morning says the Administration is presenting it to Democrats as an opportunity to offer more expansive health care plans than the one Congress passed.
Health care advisers Nancy-Ann DeParle and Stephanie Cutter stressed on the off-record call that the rule change would allow states to implement single-payer health care plans — as Vermont seeks to — and true government-run plans, like Connecticut’s Sustinet.
The source on the call summarizes the officials’ point — which is not one the Administration has sought to make publically — as casting the new “flexibility” language as an opportunity to try more progressive, not less expansive, approaches on the state level.
Posted by ZIP on Monday, February 28, 2011, at 3:13 pm | 
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He’s dancing faster than the music now…
because he expects Judge Vinson to rule against odumbocare..
What an idiot.
I mean Obama not you Rob.
His ship is sinking or he is telling his biggest lie ever to get 2012 votes. Either way you cannot tell what the empty suit is really saying.
Becareful the Lyin Hawiian’s lips are moving.
This is Obama’s millstone.
Is teh word dweeb used anymore or was that just an 80′s thing, anyway maybe he didnt read the judges ruling that forcing peopel to buy things is a no go. But hey we knwo he is behind on his reading right.
Exactly right Rob, he knows his “signature piece of legislation” is going down in flames and is trying to make it look like taking the mandate out is his idea.
Nice try Bam, but you don’t have control of ALL the sources of info yet, we know what the Good Judge said.
On second thought, maybe 2008 voters should get a ‘do-over’.
———–
Under no circumstances should the individual mandate be separated from the rest of ObamaCare.
- Leave the mandate in, and we can get rid of the whole thing.
- Remove the mandate, and we’re stuck with the rest of a unconstitutional piece of legislation.
.
Sorry Obo but just because you say that now doesn’t make it true. You see you and the rest of your goons thought you would be cute in taking out the parts that would allow someone to strike down or amend parts of the legislation and leave the rest intact. But since you did what you did whatever you say now amounts to about a fart in a hurricane.
No deal.
Repeal.
This is another example of ‘selective enforcement of the law’ on Obama’s part. If he thinks that he can keep ObamaCare intact by conceding to every individual challenge of the mandate, he is violating his oath of office.
It’s the presidents job to enforce ALL LAWS. Even those that don’t work to his advantage. If he has a problem with a law, he needs to discuss the matter with the people who make & change the law of the land; the legislature.
Well said, IM.
opt out my ass kill it for it spreads
It’s a trap, leave it in one piece so that the whole thing can be struck down by SCOTUS.
Who would have thought that a prez has the power to redefine what a law says or choose which laws are valid and need enforcement? How did we ever survive without this ruler? Maybe he can declare solutions to all the world’s problems in time to hit the golf course this afternoon.
Well said Iron Maiden. Yes, let us amend it out of existence.
NO QUARTER…………
ASKED OR GIVEN……………
THIS IS A FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF…………
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Sorry Obo…negotiation time passed when you didnt allow a word of republican input….so as we taught in negotiation training….sorry, I cannot afford your offer. However since you agree states can have rights, we will accept that you now support the court challenges.
Ready to give up yet? Fool? Go for the pin, slap the mat 3 times….game over.
Let me off this roller coaster……I am ready to barf!
Laws can only be changed by Congress…O Dumbo
and apparently this is what Orrin Hatch was agreeing to…
omg, I have no words, I never would have made the connection. Thank you for posting an article on this.
The man cannot be trusted on anything, EVER!
Rob…
You hit the nail on the head…Judge Vinson is a worry for the dimwits, something they forced themselves.
I’m loving it.
Anyway the wind blows with this incompetent boob.
I don’t trust this new Lie.
He wants to lie and give States the Bull making them think he will let them opt out but when the time comes and their ready to. opt out won’t be on the menu anymore.
Don’t trust this man repeal obamaidon’tcare and run away from that mandate as fast as you can.
I bet he’s hoping all his new illegal dems and muslims make it so hard on the States who want to opt out they won’t have any other choice but to stay in.
Fuck obama,fuck obamaIcouldcareless care and lets impeach this fucked up Marxist loving pig.
Wow, how gracious. The states can now opt out if and ONLY if they have the feds permission.
Yeah,…er uh NO, you can’t opt out. NEXT!!!
this piece of shit is on the ropes, hold him up and keep punching.
Beck says it best when it comes to this administration: Always watch what the other hand is doing.
States opt out? Companies opt out?
Whos left? lol
If everyone is opting out of something, why would we want to keep it around? Just because? Again, Common sense fails liberals.
Just remember, the States made the Fed, not the other way around. The Republican Governors are ripe for a Constitutional quorum where they can correct a lot of what is going down, it is time!
If left unchecked Obama is going to bring America to her knees, much like Bill did Monica, only there will be no happy ending to this Affirmative Action BJ.
there will be liberal blood on the floor before we go full communist in this country
Obama must think we are dumb. If all the other requirements in Obamacare survive without the individual mandate, the insurance companies will fail much faster – at that point, 0 stands before the country and says, “What else can we do? We have to implement single payer because the insurance companies can’t do the job.” The whole damn thing is unconstitutional! Rule so, Judge Vinson!
Cool in giving liberals some hope for gover healthcare he torpedoes chances of anyone going with his arrangement.
obama the destroyer, commie rat bastard muzzie terrorist ,has to be stopped
No Quarter. Repeal. Period.
Hey fuck you obamao, I literally just came home from the ER at the hospital where my wife will be spending the night – I recall a sign in teh treatmetn room that flat out says EVERYONE has the right to treatment or even transfer to a specialized hospital – even if the patient has no money and cannot pay the bill – you friggin’ lying ass dems make me sick – we have all known since this started that everyone in this country gets health care.
THIS IS ONE CONFUSED BROTHA.
Oh yea you can opt out but you still have to help pay for this POS in higher Federal taxes!
“Obama is a human depression”-Peggy Noonan