Quinn mulls executive order on insurance exchange
A top adviser to Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says the governor may use an executive order to establish a health insurance exchange that’s a key piece of President Barack Obama’s health care law.
Quinn adviser Michael Gelder says the Legislature’s workload on Medicaid and pension reform makes it unlikely lawmakers will be able to pass legislation authorizing an insurance exchange during the current session.
He says looming federal deadlines leave the Democratic governor with two choices: calling the Legislature back into special session or issuing an executive order.
Republicans, however, say an executive order would be inappropriate, especially before the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.
Only two other states — New York and Rhode Island — have established exchanges by executive order.