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Sebelius and Abbott share differing opinions on affordable care act

Austin took center-stage Thursday in the debate over the affordable care act, known by opponents as Obamacare.
TX Attorney General Greg Abbott

AUSTIN -- Austin took center-stage Thursday in the debate over the affordable care act, known by opponents as Obamacare.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott met with small business owners in northeast Austin Thursday morning to talk about the financial impact of the law. They say it will impose a huge burden on employers.

About the same time, US Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was at Austin City Hall. She met with Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe and other officials to talk about how the act will be implements.

As you might expect, Abbott and Sebelius see the health care law very differently.

Obamacare is bad for employers, as you've heard today. It drives up the cost of doing business, it imposes an avalanche of regulations and causes employers to reduce hiring and reduce hours, Abbott said.

Our job now is to connect peiple with the benefits that are coming their way and make sure they have the information easy, close at hand, to be able to enroll starting October first, Sebelius said.

Sebelius says the Obama dministration is open to talks with texas to make sure everyone has health insurance.

Congressional republicans have tried many times to block the affordable care act. Some have even advocated a government shutdown to stop it.

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