State of Oklahoma
House of Representatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 14, 2011

Democratic Leader Scott M. Inman
State Capitol Building Rm. 548
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

House Democrats Puzzled by Gov. Fallin’s Flip-Flop
on Pres. Obama’s Healthcare Plan

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 14, 2011)Today House Democrats were puzzled over Governor Fallin’s refusal of a $54 million healthcare-related grant, given that just weeks ago she defended her decision to accept the money and stated that Oklahoma was fortunate to have received it.

At a press conference today, however, she said the state had not received it and would in fact refuse it.

“Just two weeks ago, Governor Fallin defended her decision to accept $54 million from the federal government to implement the state health exchange by arguing that the money was not tied to President Obama’s healthcare plan, and that the state could not afford to do it on our own,” said Democratic Leader Scott Inman, D-Del City. “Now, just days later, Governor Fallin admits that the funding is in fact a part of Pres. Obama’s healthcare plan and that somehow despite our $500 million shortfall, we can afford to do it without these funds.”

“The question I have is: Was Governor Fallin wrong then, or is she wrong now?”

According to a March 25tharticle in the Tulsa World titled “Gov. Fallin says insurance exchange critics are misinformed”, the Governor and other top-level Republicans were making appearances as a part of a concerted effort to overcome intraparty opposition to the grant and legislation that puts in place the framework for carrying out some aspects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

When criticized by conservatives for her decision to accept the money, the Governor and the Speaker of the House Kris Steele said those conservatives were “confused or misinformed”.

When asked if the state could implement the program without the federal grant, Gov. Fallin was quoted as saying: “Do we have the money? No, we don’t. We have a $500 million hole in the budget.”

“Now with Gov. Fallin’s apparent reversal and flip-flop on the issue, she is admitting that those critics were right and perhaps she and Speaker Steele were the ones misinformed,” said Leader Inman.

-30-