Politics not the problem with health care websites

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has agreed to a request by some House Republicans to audit how $304 million in federal grants were spent on the "Cover Oregon" health insurance website, which has not enrolled a single person online without special assistance. And, there’s expectation that the probe will expand to look into other states’ troubled health exchange websites.

Good. Our Hawaii Health Connector, for one, has woefully underperformed despite receiving more than $200 million in federal grants.

With so much taxpayer funds in question, you’d think GAO involvement would be roundly welcomed. But no — here’s Hawaii’s U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat, dissing the investigation as a political stunt: "With House Republicans voting today for the 50th time to repeal the Affordable Care Act, it is disappointing but not surprising that Republicans are now using federal government resources to investigate state health exchanges instead of finding a productive way to help Americans access health care."

Hmmm. Sounds like more disconnect over the Connector.