If you deny your constituents the law's benefits, the feds will implement the law for you.

[babylonsister]

Health Care Showdown: Obama Administration Calls Out GOP Governors
Sam Stein
First Posted: 02/ 7/11 06:30 PM Updated: 02/ 7/11 07:57 PM


WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is showing political tough love with Republican governors who criticized both the constitutionality and funding of the president's signature health care legislation.

On Monday, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs called out GOP leaders who were bemoaning the law -- and threatening to ignore its provisions -- while still taking the funds needed for implementation. Adding a bit of intrigue to the matter, Gibbs hinted that the White House would address some of the top Republican critics during an upcoming conference of governors later this month.

"{T}]he implementation of this important law is moving forward," said the departing spokesman. "I don't know that we have had specific outreach {to Republican governors}. I know the governor's association is in town later this month, but our policy has and continues to be that implementation moves forward."

In private, heath care policy operatives say, the administration's message has been even more direct. As Republican governors back lawsuits against the legislation, and threaten to return money budgeted for it, the president's team has let it be known that, absent state action, the onus lies on the federal government to implement the law.

"For a lot of things there is a federal backstop," explained one administration official. "States have the first crack at it, for the lack of a better phrase, and states are empowered to take the lead on things, that's what we wanted ... But at the same time we aren't going to allow someone not to get important consumer protections just because he has the misfortune of living in a state that doesn't like the law."

The threat of federal intervention is more motivating than any other card the administration has or can play, and it is felt most acutely with respect to the state-based exchanges, which are required to be operational by 2014.

more...


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/07/obama-gop-governors-health-care_n_819926.html

[bluestateguy]

1. Similar to the Federal Voting Rights act of 1965

If state and local elections officials persist in disenfranchising minority voters, the feds will shove them all aside and federal bureaucrats, yes that's right federal bureaucrats will administer state and local elections in Southern states, right down to manning the local precincts and registering voters.

[former9thward]

4. Another slam at the South.

States that the Voting Rights Act applies to outside the South: Alaska, Arizona, California, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, and South Dakota. in those states if state and local elections officials persist in disenfranchising minority voters, the feds will shove them all aside and federal bureaucrats, yes that's right federal bureaucrats will administer state and local elections, right down to manning the local precincts and registering voters.

[silverweb]

2. Good.

:thumbsup:

[Kennah]

3. We can always bring troops back from Iraq and Afghanistan to enforce the law

I think this could be a win-win.