Stephens Co. Holds Farm City Week Banquet
Local leaders hear from Georgia’s Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner at an annual banquet.
Ralph Hudgens was the guest speaker at Thursday’s annual Toccoa-Stephens County Farm City Week Banquet at the Currahee Campus of North Georgia Technical College.
Stephens County Farm Bureau organizes the banquet each year.
Hudgens talked about his long love of and involvement in the agriculture industry prior to entering politics and becoming Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner.
He also discussed the Affordable Care Act, stating that while he is strongly opposed to it, it is currently in place and Georgia has to participate in it
That said, Hudgens went on to talk about the potential upcoming Supreme Court case regarding the law.
Hudgens said the Supreme Court may hear a case regarding the subsidies that are paid to some people under the law to help them pay for health insurance.
“The law says very clearly in nine different locations that subsidies are only available to people to buy policies in state-based exchanges,” said Hudgens.
Hudgens said that means Georgians and residents in 25 other states are not eligible, in his opinion, for subsidies.
According to Hudgens, another eight states have health insurance exchanges that are partially run by the federal government, making a total of 34 states without pure state-based exchanges with residents that are ineligible for subsidies.
Hudgens said multiple federal courts have ruled differently on this legal question, which he said makes it very possible that the Supreme Court will have the final say.
“If the Supreme Court rules that what the law says is what the law means, that means individuals in 34 states will not be eligible to receive subsidies,” said Hudgens. “If that happens, this is going to blow the whole Affordable Care Act and I guarantee it will be ripped out at the roots and I will rejoice to see the day.”
Stephens County Farm Bureau also handed out a number of special awards during Thursday’s banquet.
They include the following:
Friend of Agriculture – 50th District State Senator John Wilkinson
Farm Family of the Year – Marvin Dunson and Family
Cattleman of the Year – Jeff Watkins
Hall of Fame Inductee – Rodney Moore