The GOP-controlled Michigan House
of Representatives brought forward enough “yes” votes Thursday, when coupled
with 49 of the same from their Democratic colleagues, to pass the legislation
allocating the federal funding for the federal-state health insurance exchange
under the Affordable Care Act.
House
Bill 4111, sponsored by House Appropriations Chairman Joe Haveman
(R-Holland), ultimately passed 78-31. Thirty Republicans and one Democrat voted
against the measure, which accepts $30.67 million in federal grant money, to
complete the necessary work to build a platform for Michigan residents to
access insurance information.
House Speaker Jase Bolger
(R-Marshall) released a statement explaining that his caucus had done everything
they could to avoid the necessary step of passing this legislation; however,
following President Obama’s re-election and the U.S. Supreme Court upholding
the Affordable Care Act, the Michigan Legislature needed to act.