Some Governors Face Fallout Over Health Law Ruling

(From several days ago, apologize if already posted).

The prospect of millions of people losing federal tax credits they obtained under the health law places some governors and legislators in a tough spot in the run-up to this fall's elections.

Some 36 states turned over the task of running the health law's insurance exchanges to the federal government. If courts ultimately back Tuesday's decision by a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., which held that Americans can obtain tax credits only if their state is operating its own exchange, then officials in these states may come under pressure to find ways to ensure residents keep subsidies. Most of the 36 states are led by Republicans who oppose the Affordable Care Act. The flawed rollout of the health law gave fodder to Republicans to criticize Democrats. Now, some Democrats are using the court ruling to hit back at the GOP.

"In effect, the political consequences for all of these people losing their subsidies and their coverage would immediately shift to the Republicans who control these state governments," wrote Robert Laszewski, a health-insurance consultant in Alexandria, Va., in a blog post Tuesday. "Below the surface, lots of sensible Republicans must be sweating bullets," added Mr. Laszewski, who has been critical of the law's implementation.

More..

http://online.wsj.com/articles/some-governors-face-fallout-over-health-law-ruling-1406073106