Senator Attempts To Halt Federal Health Care Spending

State Sen. Jason Rapert (R-Bigelow) made an effort to stop state expenditures of federal health care money in Jt. Budget Committee this morning.

 

Rapert offered an amendment to HB 1226 which would create a separate account for all federal money received by the state to implement health care reform. Rapert’s amendment also stated that the state "shall not" spend any money for the purpose of implementing the new federal health care law.

 

Rapert argued that the state had 21 months to fully enact aspects of health care reform and that the state should wait until the federal courts make a final ruling on the issue.

 

State Sens. Joyce Elliott (D-Little Rock) and Linda Chesterfield (D-Little Rock) questioned a halt to the spending. Rep. Buddy Lovell (D-Marked Tree) referred to House Insurance and Commerce Committee testimony on Wednesday that indicated the state could not wait 21 months to move forward with health insurance exchanges and other aspects of the federal law.

 

The amendment failed on a voice vote. Republican members called for a roll call vote, but the motion to amend only received 8 votes on the 56-member budget panel.

 

After the roll call, Rapert released his hold on the Insurance Department budget.