Haley reaffirms her opposition to health exchange

The federal government needs to provide all states the final regulations and details on how the exchanges will be operational by Oct. 1, 2013 — when open enrollment is slated to start — or delay implementation, Haley wrote.

"The amount of uncertainty in our economy is growing given the lack of information available from the federal government at a time when we can hardly afford it," she said.

State Democratic Chairman Dick Harpootlian said Haley's letter was predictable.

"She's more concerned with politics than making sure the people of the state have health coverage," he said.

Haley received criticism for taking a federal planning grant last year to study exchanges, without ever intending to create one. The Post and Courier reported last December that Haley told the study committee its purpose was to figure out how to opt out, not create a state exchange. The panel spent more than $300,000 of the $1 million grant.