Who’s Looking Out For Your Healthcare Freedom?

For those who are seriously concerned about government intrusion into our health care, the latest question on many minds is “What do we do if this thing passes?”   As the battle rages in Congress over passage of health care reform legislation, many state and local leaders are looking ahead at ways for states to protect their citizens from the worst aspects of the legislation, should it actually pass.

Legislators in 37 states have passed or are considering legislation to preemptively protect their citizens’ freedom to choose their own (or no) health care and health insurance.  Earlier this month, Virginia became the first state to pass a law objecting to the federal mandate to obtain government-approved health insurance expected to be contained in any health care reform bill. Virginia’s governor has indicated that he will sign the legislation. Just yesterday, Idaho’s governor became the first to sign a measure requiring the state’s attorney general to sue the federal government if the state’s residents are forced to purchase health insurance.  Idaho’s Governor Otter noted, “What the Idaho Health Freedom Act says is that the citizens of our state won’t be subject to another federal mandate or turn over another part of their life to government control.”  In addition to some of these preemptive strikes, Arizona voters will vote in November on a measure passed by that state’s legislature to amend the state’s constitution to provide that no “person or employer” can be compelled to participate in a health care system or insurance plan or pay a penalty for not participating.  While some legal scholars have expressed the opinion that these state challenges will not be successful, they are certainly of symbolic importance, as they indicate a critical mass of states sending the message that this health care legislation is an inappropriate and unwanted overreach by the federal government.

There will certainly be many more legal challenges to the constitutionality of the health care reform legislation if it passes, and to the state measures mentioned above.  There will be individuals and organizations who refuse to comply, at some risk to themselves.  These are battles that must be waged if states, localities and citizens are to confine government to its appropriate, limited role in our lives. Good for the Commonwealth of Virginia that its leaders are looking out for its citizens’ rights. As a Texan, I will urge my leaders to take action quickly to protect health care freedom in our state. What about your state? Who’s looking out for your freedom?