Massachusetts’ governor has fired Obamacare architect Jonathan Gruber from a board that oversees the state’s health insurance exchange, a source confirmed to the Washington Examiner.
Gruber ignited a controversy last December when a series of videos surfaced where the Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor discussed the “stupidity of the American voter” was vital to passing the 2010 Affordable Care Act.
Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican asked Gruber and three others to resign from the board, a source told the Washington Examiner. The other three board members are George Gonser, John Bertko and Rick Jakious.
An immediate reason for the firing was not clear Wednesday night. The resignations appear to give Baker majority control on the exchange’s board, according to Boston’s CBS affiliate, which first reported the firing.
Baker wrote in a letter to the board members that he wanted new members to “take a fresh look at” the state’s exchange, called the Massachusetts Health Connector, according to a report on Twitter from Jon Keller, political analyst at the CBS affiliate.
Gruber did not immediately return an emailed request for comment.
The governor has the power to select whoever sits on the board. Former Gov. Mitt Romney appointed Gruber back in 2006
