SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Republicans put the brakes on a second of Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber's health initiatives Monday, delaying a vote on a widely-supported bill that would create an insurance marketplace for individuals and small businesses.
Democrats accused the GOP of playing politics with a bill that has broad support and is likely to eventually pass — a bid, Democrats say, to use the measure as a bargaining chip that can be traded for Republican priorities.
Republicans in the state House, with the support of Democratic Rep. Mike Schaufler, narrowly voted to send the measure to the Ways and Means Committee, which oversees the budget. Republicans dismiss allegations of political maneuvering, saying they support the bill but want to double check to ensure it won't negatively affect the budget.
The move in the House follows similar maneuvering in the Senate, where one Democratic senator has joined all 14 Republicans to hold up another bill enacting Kitzhaber's plan to redesign the health care delivery system. Those lawmakers say they want limits on medical malpractice judgments.
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