GOP's Health Care Ideas Face Dim Future In Colorado

DENVER (AP) -- Colorado Republicans aren't faring well on some of their major health care proposals this year.

A Republican bill to repeal Colorado's health insurance exchange is up for a vote Thursday in a Democrat-controlled Senate committee, where it appears headed to certain defeat. The committee is led by the Democratic senator who proposed the exchange last year.

The same committee voted down a Republican idea to seek a federal Medicaid waiver. GOP leaders have said a federal waiver is crucial to trim health care costs. Democrats have called the waiver idea wishful thinking that could hurt the needy if approved.

The health insurance exchange is unpopular with some Republicans because it is a required element of the federal health care law.

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