Speaker Carter Delays Funding Vote On ‘Private Option’ Until Monday

House Speaker Davy Carter (R-Cabot) issued the following statement around noon on Friday:

“After numerous conversations with members and careful consideration, House leadership has decided it is in the best interest of the state of Arkansas for the House to wait until Monday to vote on HB1219, which is the appropriation measure containing the Arkansas Private Option.

“The health care debate in this country over the past many years has been intense, and arguably been the basis of every contested election across the country in recent memory.  The Supreme Court of the United States has issued its opinion, and the cold hard fact is that Arkansas is left with two choices, and neither choice can stop the implementation of the Affordable Health Care Act.

“Indeed, the vast majority of the members of the Arkansas House of Representatives realize that the Private Option is the best choice. Having the vote on Monday will allow members time to return home to the 30,000 Arkansans they serve to discuss their decision.”