Despite receiving at least $305 million in federal taxpayer funding, and despite launching an aggressive advertising campaign featuring a psychedelic sun and a farmer aloft on a carrot, the Oregon Obamacare exchange has enrolled zero (0) people. The director of the state exchange says he has given up hope that the website will ever function and has told state residents to fill out hard copy paper applications.
As reported by the Portland Business Journal:
“I no longer use the word 'hope' that something is going to work,” Cover Oregon Executive Director Rocky King told the members of the legislature’s Joint Committee On Legislative Audits, Information Management and Technology. “I am planning to do a full manual system from here through March 31. If the IT comes up, that’s icing on the cake, but I’m not depending on that.”
The exchange is urging Oregonians to use the web site to compare plans and then file paper applications, King said.
Courtesy of taxpayers nationwide, the state has received numerous CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) grants totaling over $305 million:
|
Federal Taxpayer Grant Amount |
Date Awarded |
Ostensible Purpose |
|
Sept. 30, 2010 |
“State planning grant.” |
|
|
Feb. 2011 |
“Exchange Early Information Technology Innovation Grant” |
|
|
Aug. 12, 2011 |
“Grant Level One” |
|
|
May 16, 2012 |
“Grant Level One” |
|
|
Sept. 27, 2012 |
“Administrative Supplement Award” |
|
|
Jan. 17, 2013 |
“Establishment Grant Level Two” |
|
|
Jan. 17, 2013 |
“Administrative Supplement Award” |
Total: $305,206,587
The state of Oregon and Covered Oregon would like to thank the American taxpayer for their contribution.
