Butch Otter
Governor Butch Otter has responded to critics of his legal fight with the federal government over health care reform, rejecting a proposal that calls for Idaho to opt out and craft its own plan.
Otter says that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keith Allred’s proposed alternative will shift costs back to state taxpayers and federal approval for an Idaho health care plan wouldn’t come easy.
Earlier this week Allred took aim at Otter for authorizing the state to sue over the health care overhaul and said he’s prepared to help the state chart its own course for providing affordable insurance and controlling costs.
A section in the federal law allows states to seek a waiver from some of the mandates, but they must first develop a plan that can pass federal muster. That includes providing insurance that is affordable and covers as many people as the federal plan, without adding to the federal deficit. (AP)
