WASHINGTON — More Republican governors announced Friday they would not implement a key part of the new healthcare law, despite a new attempt by the Obama administration to give states more time to develop plans to put the Affordable Care Act in place.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Maine Gov. Paul LePage joined more than a dozen GOP governors who have notified the administration they will not set up state insurance exchanges next year, instead leaving the job to the federal government.

"Operating a state exchange would not provide the flexibility to meet our state's unique needs or to protect our state's taxpayers," Walker said in a statement.

Kasich's decision drew quick praise from House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio). "I'm proud of my governor … for taking a stand and resisting the federal takeover of healthcare in Ohio," said Boehner, who just last week seemed ready to soften the GOP campaign against the law, pronouncing, "Obamacare is the law of the land."

Exchanges are designed to allow Americans who don't get coverage through work to go online to shop for health insurance, like shopping for plane tickets. The insurance will have to meet new minimum standards