California Governor Schwarzenegger is throwing his support behind healthcare reform on a national scale. Could his newfound support of Obamacare have something to do with the almost $20B deficit in his state’s coffers? At this point, it’s probably not too terribly important, as HHS Sec’y Sebelius is no doubt gratified at the result. Fears of the cost of the overhaul on California’s end, while significant, will have to be hammered out over the next few months as the state must work with the federal government to find ways of subsidizing care for its high-risk uninsured — a task too daunting for a state encroaching on the 40M mark [PDF] with respect to its population to do on its own.

On the other hand, here in Minnesota, Governor Tim Pawlenty gave Sebelius the cold shoulder — stating in a memo that Minnesota will not participate in such plans within the national overhaul. Citing the fact that this state already has such a provision to provide high-risk pool care, Pawlenty is refusing federal help in cost-sharing in order to participate in this portion of the health reform law. | LINK

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