Speaking in Decatur today, Gov. Robert Bentley outlined his strategy for defeating the Affordable Care Act.

Bentley said he expected 25 states to refuse to participate in setting up insurance exchanges by Friday, the deadline for states to announce their intentions to participate.

The governor said a flaw in the Affordable Care Act fails to authorize the federal government to set up exchanges in the nonparticipating states. By refusing to participate, Bentley said, Alabama and other states are setting up a legal challenge to the health-reform law.

Bentley focused on the economy. While he said he is pessimistic about the national economy, he sees a likelihood of growth in the state.

One thing that could derail growth, he said, was a congressional failure to avoid the “fiscal cliff.” Absent an agreement, a series of budget cuts — including steep cuts in the defense budget — would begin to take effect Jan. 1. Bentley said the cuts, called sequestration, could cost Alabama 24,000 jobs.