Haley: Obama might let S.C. opt out of health care [View All]

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Republican Gov.-elect Nikki Haley said President Barack Obama agreed Thursday to consider letting South Carolina opt out of this year's federal health care overhaul if the state comes up with its own solutions to meet some of the important conditions of the national legislation.

Haley was among a group of newly elected governors - most of them Republicans - who met with the Democratic president at the Blair House, the guest house across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House.

Haley says she told Obama that South Carolina could not afford the health care mandate, and that it would cripple small businesses.

"I respectfully asked him to consider repealing the bill," she said, to which he clearly stated he would not. "I pushed him further and said if that's the case, because of states' rights, would you at least consider South Carolina opting out of the program?"

Read more: http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/12/03/1848003/haley-obama-might-let-sc-opt-out.html