OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Republican Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman shifted his position on Thursday and said the Oklahoma Senate will not consider a bill to help establish a state health insurance exchange, an announcement that surprised Gov. Mary Fallin who just this week urged lawmakers to pass the bill.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Bingman said the House-passed measure won't be heard, warning that the lure of $54 million in federal grant money could lead the state into a "trap" of complying with the new federal health care law.
"We're concerned about actually falling into the trap … of adopting the Obamacare, which is really what we're against," said Bingman, R-Sapulpa. "If we can put together a private exchange that's separate from that without using the federal dollars — using state dollars, using private funds — find out what the cost would be to implement something like that."
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