MONTGOMERY - Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said today the state will not establish an exchange where people and small businesses can shop for health insurance under the federal Affordable Care Act.

“I am not going to set up a state-based exchange that will create a tax burden of up to $50 million on the people of Alabama,” Bentley said in a written statement today. “As governor, I cannot support adding such a tax burden onto our citizens.

“The Affordable Care Act is neither affordable nor does it actually improve health care. Congress and the president have said they want to work together to solve the fiscal crisis facing this country, and I suggest they start with this health care bill.”

Bentley is not the only Republican governor to balk at Obamacare. As of last week, six Republican governors — in Texas, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana and Georgia — have said they will not participate in the exchanges, instead leaving them up to the federal government.