Nixon: Health Care Mandate Not "Good" For Missouri
By: Eli Yokley, Missouri News Horizon
Updated: June 26, 2012
Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon questions whether a key provision of the new federal health care law will be "good" for Missouri, days before the United States Supreme Court hands down a decision on the constitutionality of President Obama's landmark achievement.
Speaking with reporters in St. Louis on Monday, Nixon spoke out against the "individual mandate," the provision of the law that requires individuals to purchase health insurance.
"I think I've been pretty clear...that the health insurance mandate is not something that I think is a good thing," Nixon said, according to St. Louis Public Radio. "Without going into great detail, having the government order you to buy something like that is not something that in the past I've supported."
Nixon called the health care reforms the "Washington health care law," as he has made distancing himself from the partisan back and forth that happens in the nation's capitol a key pillar of his reelection campaign.
Nixon's chief political rival, Republican Dave Spence, weighted in Tuesday, accusing Nixon of failing to act on the health care issue in the past. The Spence campaign points to Nixon not taking part in lawsuits challenging the mandate, as well as his opposition to signing a letter circulated by Republican Governors Association chairman Haley Barbour at the time questioning the law.
"Jay Nixon now claiming it was 'pretty clear' the individual mandate is not something that he thinks is good is outrageous revisionist history at best and more likely a bold-faced lie that's an insult to Missourians," Spence said.
Previously, Nixon has referred to the law as "the law of land," and has pledged to "focus on what we can to do efficiently and effectively implement federal requirements."
His administration took fire from Republicans in the General Assembly when they began to seek funds for implementing state-level health care exchanges, as required by the law.
Speaking with reporters in St. Louis on Monday, Nixon spoke out against the "individual mandate," the provision of the law that requires individuals to purchase health insurance.
"I think I've been pretty clear...that the health insurance mandate is not something that I think is a good thing," Nixon said, according to St. Louis Public Radio. "Without going into great detail, having the government order you to buy something like that is not something that in the past I've supported."
Nixon called the health care reforms the "Washington health care law," as he has made distancing himself from the partisan back and forth that happens in the nation's capitol a key pillar of his reelection campaign.
Nixon's chief political rival, Republican Dave Spence, weighted in Tuesday, accusing Nixon of failing to act on the health care issue in the past. The Spence campaign points to Nixon not taking part in lawsuits challenging the mandate, as well as his opposition to signing a letter circulated by Republican Governors Association chairman Haley Barbour at the time questioning the law.
"Jay Nixon now claiming it was 'pretty clear' the individual mandate is not something that he thinks is good is outrageous revisionist history at best and more likely a bold-faced lie that's an insult to Missourians," Spence said.
Previously, Nixon has referred to the law as "the law of land," and has pledged to "focus on what we can to do efficiently and effectively implement federal requirements."
His administration took fire from Republicans in the General Assembly when they began to seek funds for implementing state-level health care exchanges, as required by the law.
