Thank you to all who followed up and contacted legislators last night and this morning. Over 700 emails were sent in! Your communication helped us defeat the Obama Health Insurance Exchanges in the Health Policy Committee this morning. The count was 5-YES, 9-NO, and 2-PASS. Not sure how each member voted but will update you later. Based on the content of the Speaker's Press Release, it sounds like he is not going to revisit the issue!

Here is the text of a Press Release the Speaker just sent out:

"The committee apparently was not able to get the answers to key questions or receive assurances about major concerns regarding costs for Michigan taxpayers, the ability to adopt a model the federal government wouldn't ultimately control or the ability to protect religious freedom for Michigan citizens. Because the committee could not be assured that a state exchange was the best way to protect Michigan's citizens, it is understandable why they did not approve the bill."

Stay alert! There is also the possibility the Governor could try to do it through executive order. But, for now, we have a victory. We will do our best to stay on top of the situation and keep you informed. Be at the ready! Thanks, again conservative warriors. You are the modern day Minutemen!

Here is the text of our original letter from last night.

You have been "played" my friend. They pulled the ol' hidden ball trick. I should have known better as a veteran of six years in the legislature. While so many of us diligently visited office after office of our lawmakers in the House on Tuesday, and the reps and their aides smiled politely and said, "Oh, yes, we appreciate you coming, and we hear your concerns," meanwhile, leadership was apparently getting the health insurance exchange legislation all wired and ready to light up for Thursday.

"Let them bluster today, they won't be around on Thursday." 

Don't let this happen. For Michigan to enter into a health insurance exchange agreement with the federal government is the final blow. It is the last likely hurdle to clear before Obamacare is locked in forever. If you were EVER going to get involved and "do something", now is the time. I have included several links with background on health insurance exchanges and sample talking points. Notice of the hearing in Lansing was only made fully public a few hours ago. Here is the deal:

House Standing Committee Meeting

Health Policy, Rep. Gail Haines, Chair

DATE: 11/29/2012 

TIME: 8:30 AM

PLACE: Room 519 House Office Building, Lansing, MI 

AGENDA: SB 693  (Sen. Marleau)  Insurance; health; MiHealth  

                   marketplace; establish.

Here is a very informative letter from Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals rejecting state run health exchanges. It is loaded with great talking points.

Here is an excellent article from the Mackinac Center's Jack McHugh on why "No State Obamacare Exchange is Still the Best Choice". Here is an excerpt: 

"...Obamacare only authorizes distributing subsidies through a state exchange. So if there is no state exchange there would be no subsidies, and if no subsidies then the mandate on a state's employers could not be enforced.

It's not hard to imagine the damage to Michigan's economy if by creating a state exchange lawmakers made employers here subject to a costly federal insurance mandate that doesn't apply to their competitors in other states..."

Here is a link to an email from Melanie Kurdys. She invites you to "plagiarize" her content.

Here is an excerpt from an email I received from a doctor who is a member of Docs4PatientCare: "Marleau's exchange bill comes up tomorrow for "discussion" & Haines's office could not confirm or deny a vote. It's maddening. Just read Marleau's bill, all the "non-profit" board members, crony, crony, crony. The really scary part that most people don't realize, is 30% of employers will be dropping insurance... so exchanges ARE personal. Many people will find themselves in this boondoggle. I feel like the fix is in, but its worth filling up the inboxes & voicemail of the health policy committee tonight."

You NEED to contact your state representative. You do not need to contact Senators. The bill already went through the Senate months ago. But, you should also contact the members of the House Health Policy Committee. 

General directory for state reps.

Health Policy Committee members:

Gail Haines (R) Committee Chair, 43rd District