March 19, 2012 4:07PM 

# Gingrich Campaign Responds: Newt Counsels States to ‘Resist’ Implementation of ObamaCare 

By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) 

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Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign has responded to my post, “[Gingrich Adviser Urges States to Implement ObamaCare](https://www.cato.org/gingrich-adviser-urges-states-to-implement-obamacare/),” in which I responded to David Merritt’s *Daily Caller* [op-ed](http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/13/why-states-should-move-forward-with-health-care-exchanges/) calling on states to create ObamaCare’s health insurance Exchanges. According to Gingrich campaign spokesman Joe DeSantis:

> Mr. Merritt is still an advisor to Speaker Gingrich, but he was not writing this article as a representative of the campaign. Newt receives advice from a large number of people. That does not mean he always agrees with the advice he is given. In this case of states implementing ObamaCare as a precaution, he explicitly disagrees with Mr. Merritt. He believes states need to resist the implementation of the law because it is a threat to our freedom.

That’s welcome news. There’s probably nothing that would give a bigger [boost](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203687504577006322431330662.html) to the repeal effort than for states to [refuse to create health insurance Exchanges](https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=14078).

Now that we’ve got [the Heritage Foundation](https://www.cato.org/heritage-scholar-urges-states-dont-implement-obamacare-exchanges-send-back-grants/) and Newt Gingrich on board, perhaps Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul could emphasize to state officials the importance of not implementing ObamaCare.

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics), [Health Care](https://www.cato.org/health-care) 

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