WBRZ - Baton Rouge

Louisiana gets federal money from health care reform, but it is one of 20 states suing to block the new law.

It seems a little hypocritical to some, including Warren McAlvain, who said he wants to know why the state is taking the money with one hand and shaking its fist with the other. In the fight over health care reform, there was a lot of talk about people like McAlvain, a small business owner with big insurance bills. In the past year, his insurance premium had a 28 percent jump, going up $980 a month.

As the owner of a karate, gymnastics and dance studio, McAlvain follows health care closely. He said he couldn't believe what he read about the state’s stance on the reforms. Louisiana's position on health care reform has always seemed clear.

The governor’s press office backed up its feelings in a statement sent out today saying, "The Obama health care legislation is awful and will harm the quality of health care in America…"

Jindal's office also contests how the reforms are funded and their ultimate effect on Louisiana's citizens. At the same time, the state has already started taking federal tax dollars to subsidize retiree health coverage for government employees.

In the same statement sent today, the governor’s press office maintained, “We won't penalize Louisiana retirees from accessing funds available through the flawed legislation."

Six other states are also taking federal dollars while suing against the legislation, including Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Nevada. They aren’t the only ones taking the federal dollars. About half of the Fortune 500 companies have opted to accept the money for subsidies.