(Indianapolis, Ind.) – Indiana should refrain from implementing the federal Affordable Care Act, Mike Pence tells Governor Mitch Daniels in a letter.

On Tuesday, Pence - the Republican candidate to succeed Daniels as governor - issued his response to the governor’s July 30 request for each gubernatorial candidate’s feelings on the implementation of the state-run health care exchange in “Obamacare.” The two previously met on August 15 to discuss the situation.

The 6^th District U.S. Congressman not only does not want to see Indiana participate in ACA, he wants it repealed.

“As you are aware, I opposed the Affordable Care Act and believe it must be repealed. It erodes the freedom of every American, opening the door for the federal government to legislate, regulate and mandate nearly every aspect of our daily lives under the guise of its taxing power,” Pence wrote to Daniels, adding there is too much uncertainty regarding the federal law.

Pence said the ACA could cost Indiana at least $50 million per year.

The Healthy Indiana Plan, an affordable health insurance program for uninsured adult Hoosiers introduced by Daniels in 2007, has given 40,000 residents access to health care, Pence said. A recent survey showed 94 percent of HIP participants were satisfied with the program and 99 percent would re-enroll.

“I believe it is the model that should serve as the starting point for all future discussions of health care reform in Indiana,” Pence said. “Unfortunately, the Obama Administration and its allies in Congress charted a far different course in 2010. The Affordable Care Act raised taxes on every Hoosier taxpayer and business, doubled down on an already broken and unaffordable Medicaid system, and, left unchecked, it will destroy all the progress we have made on health care access, not to mention our economic competitiveness and fiscal solvency for our state and country.”

Gubernatorial candidates Democrat John Gregg and Libertarian Rupert Boneham have not yet expressed their written desires to Daniels, who must make a decision on the health exchange by September 30.

Boneham did meet with Daniels earlier this month to discuss the decision.

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