By AP
Oklahoma City, OK – Okla Senate leader rejects insurance exchange plan
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Republican Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman says the Oklahoma Senate will not consider a bill to help create a state health insurance exchange, warning the lure of federal money could lead the state into a 'trap' of complying with the new federal health care law.
Bingman's comments Thursday come just days after Republican Gov. Mary Fallin urged legislators to pass the bill. It creates an advisory board to help implement the health insurance exchange in Oklahoma.
Bingman also urged the governor not to accept any more of the $54 million in federal grant money offered to Oklahoma to establish the exchange.
Fallin warned earlier this week that if the state doesn't act, the Obama administration would impose its own exchange on Oklahoma.