Sen. Cooper Explains Votes On Private Option
by January 28, 2015 7:19 pm 135 views
State Sen. John Cooper, R-Jonesboro, has been a staunch opponent of the state’s Private Option.
It was a centerpiece of his campaign last year when he won a special election over a host of Republican and Democratic candidates to fill the seat vacated by Sen. Paul Bookout, D-Jonesboro, who resigned amidst an ethics scandal.
During his campaign, Cooper had tough words for the Private Option’s fate.
“I strongly oppose Obamacare and the Medicaid Expansion Private Option. I am the only candidate of the seven standing firm on this issue throughout this campaign and even before this race began,” Cooper said on his campaign web site.
In November after the fall 2014 elections, Cooper told Talk Business & Politics, “Legislatively, it is tough to make predictions. But I would say it is tough for reauthorization [of the Private Option]. It is tough sledding ahead…But we will have alternatives in place.”
“I don’t think anyone will say, ‘Immediately end it.’ But there will be an exit strategy to deal with it,” Cooper added.
In Wednesday’s Senate Public Health Committee, Cooper got two chances to vote for the first time on that exit strategy to repeal the Private Option.
Senate Bill 96, sponsored by Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs, is supported by Gov. Asa Hutchinson and sets a Dec. 31, 2016 termination date for the Private Option. In the interim, a 16-member task force would look at the issue with a Dec. 31, 2015 deadline to come up with recommendations.
Senate Bill 144, sponsored by Sen. Linda Collins-Smith, R-Pocahontas, sets a Dec. 31, 2015 deadline to end the program.
Hendren’s bill cleared the Senate panel on a 6-1 vote on Wednesday, while Collins-Smith’s measure failed 3-3. Cooper voted for the Hendren bill and against the Collins-Smith bill, which led to a lot of curiosity from capitol observers as to the rationale behind his votes.
Talk Business & Politics’ Michael Wilkey caught up with Sen. Cooper to explore his thoughts.
TB&P: You said earlier today on the radio that a reason you voted against the Collins-Smith bill was the possible legal risk that the state faces in setting a Dec. 31, 2015 deadline and that you have been warning about the issue for some time. Could you provide more details on a possible risk?
Sen. John Cooper: I am concerned that if we did a short-term repeal that these healthcare policies could be looked at by courts as having contract status and give the state a financial risk.
TB&P: Could you explain the thought process behind looking at both bills, their pros as well as their cons, in determining how to vote on each?
Cooper: I looked at each one and considered the positives and negatives of both bills. I read both carefully and analyzed what I knew about each. I have previously advocated a wind-down strategy along with a date certain for exiting the P.O. SB96 did what I have been advocating for some time and when I talked about it before, most people agreed with me. We had before us two exit bills but in my judgment one was far better than the other.
TB&P: The bill and program has been controversial since discussions began in 2013, with people having views one way or the other. Have you heard from constituents on feedback about the vote today?
Cooper: There are some people that will want to do an outright repeal no matter what. I understand the feeling to want to move fast and get it done. I share that sentiment; however, sometimes that approach is just not wise to do. I hope people will just step back, think about what each is capable of doing and what kind of havoc to our state can be done by doing this wrong.