On Wednesday, Colorado became the eighth state to comply with a federal mandate to set up a health insurance exchange, and the first state to approve the exchange with bipartisan approval.

Gov. John Hickenlooper was joined at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, Colo., by state lawmakers and leaders from the business, consumer, health and insurance industries to sign legislation that creates the Colorado Health Benefits Exchange.

"This legislation moves Colorado forward with one voice," Hickenlooper said. "The health exchange will allow individuals and small businesses to choose among easy-to-compare affordable health care options. It will give Coloradans more control, quality choices and better protections when buying insurance. We are grateful to the bill's sponsors, Sen. Betty Boyd and Rep. Amy Stephens, and various interest groups for working through partisan politics to do what's right for all of Colorado."