House OKs study of health insurance

April 23, 2003

House members on Tuesday approved creation of a commission to study the effects of health-insurance mandates despite objections from Democrats that the findings will be biased.

"Seven of the commission's nine members will be appointed by a governor who has publicly stated his opposition to mandates," Rep. Angie Paccione, D-Fort Collins, told her fellow representatives.
Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, agreed, saying the commission would lack legitimacy. He compared it to the deposed regime in Iraq.

"A year ago, Saddam Hussein held an election and won 100 percent of the vote," he said. "It was a joke. No one took it seriously."

But Rep. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, who sponsored the bill, said the commission's findings would be fair and balanced and wouldn't tilt toward the insurance industry's interests.

"The disconnect between the insurance companies and the commission will be complete," he said.

The House passed the bill 37-28. It now heads to Gov. Bill Owens for his signature.