WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- The office of Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, issued the following news release:

U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today released the following statement on the state of Ohio's decision to allow the federal government to run the health insurance exchange mandated by the new health care law:

"Governor Kasich's team estimated that setting up a health insurance exchange would cost the state a staggering $43 million, adding an additional strain on an already constrained budget. Even more, since President Obama's big government approach to health care does not grant states the authority to create a plan to best meet their specific needs, the details of the federally-determined exchange remain unclear.

"There are too many unanswered questions surrounding the health care spending law, and the health insurance exchange is just one of them.

"I continue to believe there is a better, patient-centered way to improve our health care system, reduce costs and expand access without the heavy hand of government and massive new taxes."

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