NEBRASKA /A.P. NEWS
NEB BOARD OF EDUCATION CONSIDERS HEALTH REFORM REPEAL
By John Axtell and Associated Press
Sep 2, 2010 - 8:26:46 AM

    The Nebraska State Board of Education discussed but took no action Wednesday on a resolution to back repealing the health care reform law passed by Congress this year because the law requires the state to spend more money on Medicaid.

     Some members objected the resolution...in part because of a letter sent out last week by Governor Dave Heineman that could be interpreted as coercing support for repeal...but most agreed a less dramatic resolution reaffirm the board's commitment to education and objecting to "unfunded mandates" in general.

       Board President Kandy Imes of Gering, who favors a more broadly worded resolution, is unhappy that the discussion was apparently triggered by the governor's letter, but board member Bob Evnen...who proposed the resolution...insisted the letter had nothing to do with it.

      Evnan insisted insisted he's been raising concerns about health care reform for more than a year and didn't bring it to the board at "the behest of anyone else," even if he did propose it shortly after the letter was made public and used some of the same language in discussing it as the governor.

      Board member and former state Republican chairman Mark Quandahl said Evnen's resolution reaffirms the basic concept that education is important, and that the cost of health care reform to the state budget...however much it is...will put the state in a bind.
 
      Evnen said he would revise his resolution based on the board discussion and have something ready for Thursday's board meeting.

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