December 6, 2012 4:59PM 

# NJ Gov. Vetoes ObamaCare Exchange; SD Gov. Rejects Medicaid Expansion 

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

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On the same day he met with President Barack Obama (D) at the White House, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) [vetoed](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/06/chris-christie-veto-obamacare_n_2251019.html) a bill that would have implemented a key part of ObamaCare:

> New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) became the latest state chief executive to rebuff President Barack Obama’s health care reform law Thursday by [vetoing a bill](http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/552012/approved/20121206b.html) that would have created an online marketplace for uninsured residents to shop for health insurance.
> 
> 
> For [the second time this year](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76179.html), Christie rejected legislation passed by New Jersey’s Democratic-controlled legislature that would have established a state-run [health insurance exchange](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/15/health-insurance-exchanges_n_2138576.html) under Obamacare.

Meanwhile, South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R) [said](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/05/dennis-daugaard-obamacare-rejects-medicaid_n_2244970.html) his state will not implement ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion:

> There are far too many unanswered questions for me to recommend adding 48,000 adults to the 116,000 already on our rolls.

The Huffington Post reports that 19 states have refused to establish an Exchange, and 9 states have refused to expand Medicaid. I’ve heard higher counts, though.

##### 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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