Anna M. Tinsley
Nov 07, 2009 (Fort Worth Star-Telegram - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --

As Congress debates overhauling the nation's healthcare system, some state leaders hope that whatever legislation passes will include a provision allowing Texas to opt out of the plan.

Although its not yet part of the massive Democratic-led plan, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said there will be a provision letting states opt out of the $1.1 trillion program geared to guarantee that 96 percent of Americans have insurance, including 36 million who currently don't have coverage.

Two key concerns for Texas leaders: This state leads the nation in uninsured residents, and taxpayers here likely would have to help pay for the federal program whether the state participates in it or not.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who opted out of some federal stimulus funds earmarked for unemployment benefits this year, has said he isn't sure, given a choice, whether he would opt Texas out of any healthcare revamp.

"Until we see more clearly what Washington's plan is relative to this, sure, our options are open," Perry told reporters this week.

But the choice may not be up to him.

Any decision on what Texas should do regarding the plan would likely fall to the Texas Legislature or whoever wins Texas' governor's race next year. That election has drawn several Republicans, including two of the most popular GOP officeholders and a handful of Democrats, including a former U.S. ambassador, a rancher, a comedian and a hair care executive.

The U.S. House could vote on the plan as soon as this weekend; the U.S. Senate might not take it up until next year.

Members of Congress

Some area Republicans say opting out may not be an issue anyone needs to address.

"There is no guarantee there will be an 'opt out' provision in a final bill," said Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, who plans to vote against the bill. "This option is not in the House bill, and the Senate is writing their legislation behind closed doors."

She and other Republicans say they oppose the bill because it increases taxes, boosts federal debt and grows government.

"It really doesn't fix any of the ailments in healthcare," said Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington. "The opt-out doesn't really change the fundamental flaws in this bill.

"It is an attempt to buy votes," he said. "I think it is best for Congress to opt out of this plan by voting it down before it ever becomes an issue at the state level."

Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, didn't respond to questions from the Star-Telegram about a potential opt-out provision. And Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, declined to comment on the opt-out provision because it is part of the Senate bill, not the House's.

Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, said he's against the plan because it would be another unfunded system similar to Medicare.

"There are many other ways to fix the problems that exist in our current healthcare system, but the creation of a public option is not the answer and would be a significant mistake," he said.

Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn has said he hopes that Texans don't buy the "mirage" of possibly not participating in any plan.

"I do not think we should be fooled by this," he said recently on Fox News. "Some people have...called it a mirage, meaning that it offers something that it does not in fact guarantee, which is private choice. aEURe.aEURe.aEURe. And, of course, the government is going to need the revenue from taxpayers in all 50 states to pay for it regardless of whether your state opts out."

Governor's race

Perry, a vocal critic of the current Washington leadership, said he hasn't ruled anything out. But he does call the plan a "classic Washington bait-and-switch."

His chief rival in the GOP gubernatorial primary next year, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, has vowed to fight the proposed revamp "with every bone in my body."

If the measure becomes law, and states are given the right to opt out, those states will be affected by cuts in Medicare, higher insurance premium rates and rising taxes, she said recently in an interview on the Kudlow Report on CNBC. "I don't see that that's going to help."

GOP gubernatorial candidate Larry Kilgore of Mansfield said Texas definitely needs to opt out of the plan.

"I hate the U.S. government mandating Texas healthcare," said Kilgore, a Christian activist. "Texans do not need the U.S. government controlling our healthcare."

Democrat and rancher Hank Gilbert adamantly said Texas should not opt out of the program and if elected governor, he would veto any such proposal. "An opt-out would mean that the millions of uninsured Texans are essentially stuck where they are today," he said. "It would be irresponsible to opt out."

For now, Tom Schieffer of Fort Worth said: "What we need to remember is that healthcare reform is all about giving every Texan access to health care at an affordable price. Whatever we need to do to make that happen is what we ought to be doing." Schieffer is another Democrat running in the gubernatorial election.

Fort Worth teacher and Democratic candidate Felix Alvarado said he would opt out of the plan only "if the provisions were not conductive to the well-being of all citizens."

And Democrat Kinky Friedman said the decision of opting-out would belong to the state Legislature. "Unless they can come up with a better plan, it wouldn't make much sense to opt out," he said.

State lawmakers

Some state legislators say they don't know whether they'll ever vote on whether to opt out.

What they do know is that, in Texas, "we have thousands of children whose parents work every day but still can't get health insurance," said state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth. "Solving that problem should be our first priority."

State Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, said: "We have over 6 million families that do not have health insurance in our state. Texas should definitely opt in."

State Rep. Mark Shelton, R-Fort Worth, said he wishes that Congress would "abandon this scheme" of revamping the healthcare system and instead work to improve the current Medicare program and work to improve private insurance.

ANNA M. TINSLEY, 817-390-7610

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