Concord - In a desperate attempt to defend their Tea Party agenda of standing between New Hampshire citizens and affordable health care, New Hampshire Republicans are resorting to distorting former Governor Lynch’s words and actions. Despite dishonest Republican claims to the contrary, Governor Lynch supported the establishment of a state based exchange with the Affordable Care Act, citing it as a way to “benefit both businesses and citizens” in New Hampshire, and “compare and obtain affordable health insurance.”
“New Hampshire Republicans know the facts don’t back them up and they know they are standing in the way of a more efficient marketplace for affordable health insurance, so they have resorted to desperate lies and distortions of the truth,” said New Hampshire Democratic Party Communications Director Harrell Kirstein. “The shameful, pathetic, and dishonest Republican lies about HB1297 and health insurance exchanges in New Hampshire need to stop immediately. Health insurance costs are a serious issue for many, and at the very least Republicans owe the people of New Hampshire some honesty.”
In 2012, Governor Lynch signed HB1297 which prohibited a state based exchange, as compromise legislation with the then Republican supermajorities in the New Hampshire House and Senate. The Governor made clear that he signed the bill because it “does not prevent the state from participating in a federal health exchange.” The bill also allowed New Hampshire, “to cooperate with the federal government in the creation of a federal exchange.”
Further in his State of the State Address earlier that year, Lynch voiced strong support for a state based exchange. "A well-designed health insurance exchange can make it easier for businesses to compare and obtain affordable health insurance. And I certainly don't think we want the federal government to design an exchange for us. That is why must move forward now with designing our own exchange right here in New Hampshire,” said Governor Lynch.
“The simple fact is that Republicans are running scared. An exchange would help New Hampshire families and small businesses purchase insurance,” continued Kirstein. “Jeb Bradley and his Tea Party pals don’t care about Granite Staters looking for more affordable insurance options, they don’t care about businesses looking to reduce health care costs, they are opposed to establishing an insurance exchange for purely partisan reasons - and that is simply despicable.”
Facts on HB1297 and Support for New Hampshire Based Exachanges
Drew Cline: No, Gov. Lynch has not come out against Obamacare. [Union Leader, June 19, 2012]
Drew Cline: “Mistake” to take HB1297 as a “sign Lynch opposes either the exchanges or Obamacare.” Drew Cline opined, “Gov. John Lynch surprised a lot of insiders by signing House Bill 1297, which prohibits New Hampshire from establishing its own health insurance exchange under the federal Affordable Care Act. It would be a mistake to take this as a sign that Lynch opposes either the exchanges or Obamacare.” [Union Leader,June 19, 2012]
Lynch signed HB1297 because it “does not prevent the state from participating in a federal health exchange” The Union Leader reported, “Gov. John Lynch this week signed into law legislation prohibiting state agencies from setting up a state-based insurance exchange as called for in President Obama's Affordable Care Act, but allowing the state to cooperate with the federal government in the creation of a federal exchange. The compromise bill that passed the House and Senate in late May “does not prevent the state from participating in a federal health exchange,” which is why Democrat Lynch signed the bill, said his spokesman, Colin Manning.” [Union Leader, June 19, 2012]
Governor Lynch Statement in Support of the Affordable Care Act. "As a state, we have been preparing to implement the Affordable Care Act and will continue doing so in a way that best fits New Hampshire. The Act will help provide access to affordable health care to many more of our citizens, and help our small businesses with the high costs of health care. The Court's decision allows those important provisions to go forward. Creating greater access to affordable health care is a goal we should all be working together to achieve, and that is what I will continue to do." [June 28, 2012]
Governor Lynch Supported State Based Exchange. In his state of the state speech Governor Lynch said, "A well-designed health insurance exchange can make it easier for businesses to compare and obtain affordable health insurance. And I certainly don't think we want the federal government to design an exchange for us. That is why must move forward now with designing our own exchange right here in New Hampshire." [Union Leader, June 19, 2012]
Dishonest GOP Claims
“Senate Republicans are simply following the bipartisan law signed by Democrat Gov. Lynch” [Nashua Telegraph, 6/13/2013]
“Sen. Jeb Bradley, a Wolfeboro Republican, again argued that the partnership would violate the state law prohibiting a state-run marketplace.” [AP, 6/12/13]
“Opponents cast the bill as an attempt to move New Hampshire toward a state-operated marketplace, something specifically prohibited by a state law passed last session. ‘We said a year ago, this is a federal law, it should be administered on a federal basis,’ Sen. Jeb Bradley, a Wolfeboro Republican, said.” [Concord Monitor, 6/7/13]
Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 09:29AM 
