House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) issued a statement
Wednesday explaining that, despite ongoing pressure from Governor Rick Snyder,
the House of Representatives will not be acting on the health exchange issue until
more questions can be answered specifically with regard to the U.S. Supreme
Court ruling in SCOTUS Docket
11-393, National Federation of
Independent Business v. Sebelius.
The House will instead begin a series of joint legislative
committee hearings of the Health Policy Committee and Appropriations
Subcommittee on Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Chaired by Representatives
Gail Haines (R-Lake Angelus) and Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville), respectively.
Senate
Bill 693 was passed by the Senate last November; however, House Republicans
have continued to oppose the State’s involvement in the health exchange. The
Governor, meanwhile, wishes to have the State develop and implement its own
solution rather than be handed a package from the Federal Government.