Governors in key states buck GOP on health care

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican leaders in Congress keep calling for the repeal of the health care law. But GOP governors in swing-voting states are grudgingly bowing to the reality that the law is here to stay.

The governors’ reluctant acceptance is based on what they call financial prudence and also what appears to be political necessity.

Republican governors of Florida, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, New Mexico and Nevada have embraced major parts of the health overhaul, in contrast to the GOP in Washington.

After initial gripes, these Republican governors are now trying with varying success to expand state-run health insurance programs for lower- and moderate-income residents in exchange for billions in federal subsidies.

Though they discount political calculations, each governor is up for re-election next year in states that President Barack Obama won twice.