State Leaders Plan to Fight Federal Health Reform

5192097A Louisiana state representative plans to introduce a constitutional amendment to shield the state from being forced to accept any federal health care reform, according to reports. It is the latest example of state legislatures taking health care matters into their own hands in response to national health care reform efforts.

"What the bill does if you read it, the Senate version too, it would penalize employers," Republican state Rep. Kirk Talbot said, according to WWLTV, a CBS affiliate. "They would charge 8 percent tax on your state payroll if you don't participate in the plan, so that is clearly a penalty and a fine, and that's something this constitutional amendment would hopefully be able to blunt."

A Democrat in the state legislature said the measure was premature, given that Congress has not finalized its health care bill, and that the measure would adversely affect Medicare and Medicaid in Louisiana.

Talbot reportedly said he was following other states' leads.

Indeed, in July, two Republican Florida state representatives proposed a state constitutional amendment to prevent state residents from being forced to sign up for health care. Like the Louisiana measure, the Florida amendment would have to be approved by voters in a 2010 vote.

"We believe this unprecedented power-grab by President Obama and Congress is clearly not in the best interests of the citizens of Florida," Florida State Senator Carey Baker and State Representative Scott Plakon said in a joint statement.

The Arizona legislature in June also approved a ballot measure that would nullify any federal "individual mandate" for health care in the state.

Republican Texas Governor Rick Perry also said in a recent radio interview that he would invoke the 10th Amendment to resist national health care reform.

"I think you'll hear states and governors standing up and saying 'no' to this type of encroachment on the states with their healthcare," Perry said. "So my hope is that we never have to have that stand-up. But I'm certainly willing and ready for the fight if this administration continues to try to force their very expansive government philosophy down our collective throats."

Texas has a higher percentage of uninsured people, at 25 percent, than any other state, the Star-Telegram points out.

Earlier this year, Perry refused federal stimulus funds for unemployment benefits but then asked for a federal loan to cover the very expenses the rejected stimulus money would have paid for.

[kansas1946]

OK, I want all of those red-necks to immediately get any of their loved ones OFF of Medicare. Grandma, mom, whoever, off. Then I want the federal government to drop anyone in those states from the Medicare rolls. Obviously in those states, the idea of a public option for health care is so evil that those folks SURELY do not want to be on Medicare. Let's see. If we get Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Arizona's old folks off Medicare, that ought to go a long way towards a public option for the rest of us.

[jsd330]

Those people paid into those systems most of their life amd you want to take away from them what they have coming. Typical liberal.

[woltommel]

Many of the people with the most at risk and the most invested in the health care today are being dissed by many on these boards but mainly by Obama and congress. These seniors have paid in to the social system their whole life and now see the government steal their contributions again. They have stolen social security and medicare taxes from them to fund social experiments that are complete failures. They should have spoken sooner, but guess what, we will be heard now.!

[tar637L]

I'm glad that some have finally found their balls to stand against this socialist hooie. Yes, socialist, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck...; If the government owns it, controls it, than it is socialist.
Real government exists to provide the essentials that people can't provide themselves. Food, clothing, etc. to those who physically can't get it themselves! Is health insurance mandatory for everyone to survive, like air is???
Forcing everyone to get health insurance is taking away the freedom to say NOOOOOO!!!!! Would you point a gun at someone to make them smoke? Legalize Rape? That is what it means to take away the choice of no.

Read the story about the Protester in NH if you have the time. This man was trying to protect his right to NO.

[pensacola8-2009]

Louisiana, Florida and Texas are the closest examples of Taliban as one can find in the USA. Very backward thinking illiterate people are leading with a closed mind. They didn't want woman to have rights or education. They wanted government to fall under the religious umbrella of power. They exhibit no tolerance for those demanding human rights.

Florida has recently converted to be a Blue state and hopes to liberate itself from the grips of perpetual ignorance found to exist under Republican control.

[sjc_1]

This is like Republican states refusing extended unemployment benefits until they learned that the people of their states favored it. With Republicans it is you voted me into office now sit down and shut up. Democrats want to hear what the people have to say at all times.

[Livinontheedge]

I love the fact states think they can over ride federal law. Just like California legalizing marijuana yet the feds can make an arrest for poseesion at any time. All these state are doing is screwing their constituents by opening them to federal charges when they interfere with federal law.

[the_majesty]

All American Patriots need to stand up and stop this ObamaCare plan.
The government does not need to control our medical care.

[the_majesty]

I'm proud to be from the Great State of Florida.
I stand with the American Patriot Leaders of Florida.