WHAT THEY SAID in emails, documents
• “The Gov wants exchanges because they believe it will be good for business regardless of Obamacare.” — Mike Thompson, deputy commissioner of the state Insurance Department, in a Feb. 9, 2011, email to Insurance Commissioner John Doak and other policy advisers
• “A large part of your political success was the overwhelming opposition of Oklahomans to this overreaching, federal incursion. Implementing Obamacare will taint you.” — Rick Farmer, another deputy insurance commissioner, in a policy paper shared via email Feb. 10, 2011
• “On the surface a state exchange sounds like a better choice, but ultimately I believe a state exchange will usher in full fledge (sic) Obamacare to Oklahoma.” — Former Sen. Randy Brogdon, another deputy insurance commissioner, in the same policy paper
• “We must use it wisely and make sure that the system the state creates, if it becomes necessary to implement it … addresses the needs of both Oklahoma consumers and the insurance industry.” — John Doak, insurance commissioner, in a Feb. 15, 2011, statement on a state health exchange
• “I am hard pressed on how to fight this battle. What would happen if the Governor just gave the money back?” — Barry Goldwater Jr., board member at the conservative think tank Goldwater Institute, in an April 4, 2011, email to a Gov. Mary Fallin policy adviser
• “Please prepare news release saying Oklahoma insurance commissioner returning 1 million dollar Obamacare grant!” — Doak, in an April 11, 2011, email to his top policy advisers
Jaclyn Cosgrove, Staff Writer
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