Tim Pawlenty: Repeal Obama Health-Care Laws

Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota used the opportunity of the Republican Governors Association meeting in San Diego last week to publish an essay in the San Diego Union-Tribune calling for the repeal of new federal health-care laws backed by President Barack Obama -- and to call attention to his own possible bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

After a historic election reflecting six in 10 voters wanting to repeal Obamacare, the question now facing conservatives is how, insisted Pawlenty. As long as President Barack Obama holds his veto pen, undoing this misguided piece of legislation will not be easy. But we can make progress. While Congress takes important steps toward eventual repeal, governors can use their authority to stop or delay implementation of Obamacare. It must be fought not only in Washington but in state capitols.

In Minnesota, I issued an executive order directing state agencies to reject participation in Obamacare unless required by law or consistent with existing state policy, continued Pawlenty. I also joined the federal lawsuit that challenges Obamacares individual mandate and invokes the 10th Amendment in defense of states rights and a proper view of federalism. Newly elected Republican governors should consider taking similar actions.

Pawlenty praised measures passed in Minnesota under his watch including tort reform and increasing access to health saving accounts to lower medical costs.

Giving Americans more choice, ownership and responsibility will bring about greater efficiency and lower costs, wrote Pawlenty. Making this shift from the government to purchasers will not happen overnight, but here are some ideas for Congress to get us moving in the right direction.

Earlier in the month, Pawlenty committed Minnesota to backing a constitutional challenge to the new federal laws being led by Attorney General Bill McCollum.