Pataki: Measures Need to Be in Place to Protect Obamacare Recipients

Obamacare is a "horrible law" and former New York Gov. George Pataki, one of the large crop of Republicans seeking the White House, hopes the Supreme Court will rule against it.

But still, he said measures will need to be taken to protect the millions of people who could lose coverage if their subsidies are outlawed.

"I think there is no question the court should decide it is wrong, illegal for the federal government to subsidize federally run exchanges," Pataki said on Fox News' "Outnumbered" program Monday. "I think that is very clear from the language and history of the law, but there are solutions."

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The court did not hand down a decision in the case of King v. Burwell, which says that people who buy coverage on the federal healthcare exchange are not entitled to subsidies because the law states that financial aid is available for those who enroll through exchanges "established by the State."

To protect recipients who could lose their coverage as a result of the ruling, Pataki recommends a program similar to one operated in businesses that allows workers to keep their retirement benefits for 18 months while they transition to a new job.

"During that 18-month period, they can look at alternatives in the private sector," Pataki said. "They can look to the states to see if they come up with a different approach. By the way, when I was governor, we dealt with this issue without Obamacare in a way patient-centric that used the private sector. I recommend states do that as well."

Coming up with a contingency plan should be up to Democrats as they "rammed" Obamacare through without any Republican votes, Pataki said, "When Democrats had veto proof control or filibuster-proof in both houses and President Obama. They are the ones who are responsible for this law."

But still, he said that while he does not want to see Obamacare extended, "I also don't want to see people in my state dependent on the exchange all of sudden seeing higher premiums. I think this is a way to do that."

Pataki said that while he was governor New York, he put together a plan for the uninsured that allowed family health insurance and coverage that allowed adults earning too much to meet Medicaid standards to still have access to inexpensive, quality healthcare plans. And for children, there was a program that covered families that earned up to $58,000 a year.

"There were alternatives out there but they were all superseded by Obamacare," Pataki said. "Obamacare wiped them all out."

But unlike Obamacare architect Jonathan Gruber, who has been quoted as saying the law passed because of the "stupidity" of Americans, Pataki said he does not believe Americans are either stupid or don't care.

"I think voters care," he said. "They know they were lied to if you like your policy you can keep it. They know they were lied how it will drive down costs. It has driven up costs. Now they know they were lied about Gruber, this guy who thinks we're all idiots was right smack in the middle of it."

Pataki also discussed his opinion on the future of the Confederate flag, an issue that has divided his fellow GOP contenders for the 2016 nomination.

"I think the flag should go from the state Capitol grounds, period," said Pataki. "It should be moved to some place where historical reference is appropriate. I thought this issue had been resolved decades ago. One of my good friends, former Gov. David Beasley of South Carolina, Republican when he was governor, removed the flag from the top of the Capitol. It is now on the grounds. It should go from the grounds and be put someplace."

But he believes South Carolina will decide to remove the Confederate flag from state property.

"There are only two states in America that elected African-American senators and congress, and South Carolina is one of them," said Pataki. "The Emanuel church [members] have shown us the faith of Christianity, how to forgive to bring people together. They will do the right thing. They will remove the flag."

Related stories:

• King v. Burwell: The Fix is In
• Health Premiums Skyrocketing Under Obamacare