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(Oklahoma) Lawmakers File "Freedom of Healthcare Choice Act"
rightsidenews.com ^ | 12/22/09 | Mike Ritze

Posted on 12/22/2009 6:38:39 PM PST by TornadoAlley3

OKLAHOMA CITY - The voters of Oklahoma will have the opportunity to preserve the existing health care system in Oklahoma under legislation sought by three state legislators.

State Reps. Mike Ritze and Mike Reynolds and state Sen. Randy Brogdon announced today that they will file legislation enacting the "Freedom of Healthcare Choice Act," allowing voters to preserve the existing healthcare system in Oklahoma regardless of congressional action at the federal level.

The legislation will allow a vote of the people to opt out of the proposed federal system.

"It's clear the overwhelming majority of Americans want the current doctor-patient relationship preserved instead of having Washington bureaucrats dictate medical decisions," said Ritze, a Broken Arrow Republican who is also a board-certified family practice physician and surgeon. "The proposals under consideration in Congress are likely to result in reduced access to a family doctor, rationing of services, or even outright denial of care if a pencil-pusher decides it is not a 'best practice.' My legislation would give the voters the ability to protect and preserve their existing health care coverage."

"The United States' health care system is the envy of the world and the people of Oklahoma should have the opportunity to maintain the top-notch care they have received while also avoiding the onerous burdens the proposed federal law would impose on working families," said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City.

"The proposed legislation in Washington is a massive overstepping of the bounds placed on Congress by our U.S. Constitution," said Brogdon, R-Owasso. "It is time that we the people tell Congress enough is enough - and now Oklahomans will have the opportunity to do so."

Modeled on an Arizona proposal, Ritze and Reynolds' legislation would place language on the ballot to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to declare what types of health care systems could lawfully exist in the state.

The proposed constitutional amendment would

Prohibit any law or rule from directly or indirectly compelling any person or employer to participate in any health care system; Allow any person or employer to pay directly for lawful health care services without paying any penalties or fines; Permit a health care provider to provide directly purchased lawful health services without paying any penalties or fines; and Stipulate that subject to reasonable and necessary rules that do not substantially limit a person's options, the purchase or sale of private health insurance will not be prohibited. The amendment would not change what health care services a provider is required to perform or what health care services are permitted by law.

"This is an issue that could have serious consequences for all citizens and it is only right to allow voters a direct role in the outcome of this debate," Ritze said.

"I was not surprised that the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate kept the specific language of their bill from the public and most of their members," Reynolds said. "In comparison, the language of our "Freedom of Healthcare Choice Act" will be fully disclosed as soon as it is filed, probably later this afternoon. We welcome any discussion."


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Oklahoma
KEYWORDS: 10thamendment; freedom; healthcare; lping; military; obama; obamacare; oklahoma; sovereignty
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To: TornadoAlley3

Okay, let’s keep the pressure on - especially Nelson. The governor and people of Nebraska are really giving it to him. Let’s add fuel to the fire! Let him know we are not only sick of the corruption of which he is chief benefactor, but we will also be cheering for the Cornhuskers to lose big to the Arizona Wildcats in their upcoming bowl game!

Nelson
bennelson.senate.gov
Phone: (402) 441-4600
Fax: (202) 228-0012

Webb
http://webb.senate.gov
Phone: 202-224-4024
Fax: 202-228-6363

Landrieu
http://landrieu.senate.gov
Phone: (202)224-5824
Fax:(202) 224-9735

Lincoln
http://lincoln.senate.gov
(202) 224-4843
Fax (202) 228-1371

Bayh
http://bayh.senate.gov
Phone: (202) 224-5623
Fax: (202) 228-1377

Lieberman
http://lieberman.senate.gov
Phone: 202.224.4041
Fax: 202.224.9750


61 posted on 12/22/2009 8:10:59 PM PST by DennisR (Look around - God gives countless, indisputable, and unambiguous clues that He does, indeed, exist.)
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To: TornadoAlley3

Oklahoma, you are awesome...


62 posted on 12/22/2009 8:13:40 PM PST by kamikaze2000
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To: TornadoAlley3

Bravo OK.


63 posted on 12/22/2009 8:15:40 PM PST by corvus
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To: rolling_stone
The 2nd amendment guarantees the citizens the right to overcome any unconstitutional laws. We will enforce the Constitution if need be.

The second amendment doesn't guarantee jack diddly. Its meaning is under threat at any time. The right to rebel is not guaranteed. That's a right you don't ask permission to excercise.

64 posted on 12/22/2009 8:23:54 PM PST by Huck (The Constitution is an outrageous insult to the men who fought the Revolution." -Patrick Henry)
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To: TornadoAlley3

SOONER BUMP


65 posted on 12/22/2009 8:34:43 PM PST by OKC Patriot ("Never Forget"!)
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To: Pride in the USA

We should send this to Ms Mcmorris-Rodgers and ask that she do the same.


66 posted on 12/22/2009 8:49:42 PM PST by lonevoice (If Fox News is the only outlet reporting it, did it really happen?)
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To: TornadoAlley3; 11th Commandment; 17th Miss Regt; 2001convSVT; 2ndDivisionVet; A_Former_Democrat; ...
Thanks again AAC!

Our neighbor to the north is walking the walk! God luv 'em!





Please ~ping~ me to articles relating to the 10th Amendment/States Rights so I can engage the pinger.

I've stopped monitoring threads and unilaterally adding names to the ping list, so if you want on or off the list just say so.

Additional Resources:

Tenth Amendment Chronicles Thread
Tenth Amendment Center
The Right Side of Life/State Initiatives
Sovereign States
Firearms Freedom Act

CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES

67 posted on 12/22/2009 8:57:55 PM PST by ForGod'sSake (You have two choices and two choices only: SUBMIT or RESIST with everything you've got!)
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To: TornadoAlley3

Tornado Alley Bump!!!

(and I never saw a tornado in person during my time in Okalhoma...
age 6 months to about 30 years of age...But many passed by me
but it was after dark!!!)


68 posted on 12/22/2009 9:00:21 PM PST by VOA
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To: TornadoAlley3

Now if they would just remove the mandates that have been put on insurance companies requiring them to cover all sorts of stuff that many people don’t want or need, then we would see some real progress in improving health care and making insurance more affordable.


69 posted on 12/22/2009 9:03:12 PM PST by Pining_4_TX
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To: Huck
So your last hope will be the SCOTUS, from which there is no appeal.

If you're prepared to accept the decision of a branch of the feral government that the actions of...the feral government, are Constitutional. I'll bet a lot of people, and states, are not so prepared.

70 posted on 12/22/2009 9:15:42 PM PST by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: bamahead; ForGod'sSake

Federalism ping, y’all.


71 posted on 12/22/2009 9:16:59 PM PST by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: Still Thinking

Prepared or not, short of a constitutional recourse, they have no LEGAL recourse. They can rebel. Or they can call a convention. Actually, they ought to call a convention. That would be the “proper” thing to do. Rebellion, technically, should be a last resort, and unless you’ve called a Constitutional Convention, you have not exhausted your legal options.


72 posted on 12/22/2009 9:22:30 PM PST by Huck (The Constitution is an outrageous insult to the men who fought the Revolution." -Patrick Henry)
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To: ForGod'sSake

It had been insisted upon by those who were called anti-federalists, that this form of government consolidated the union; .... Those who were called anti-federalists at that time, complained that they were in favor of a federal government, and the others were in favor of a National one; the federalists were for ratifying the constitution as it stood, and the others did not until amendments were made [the Bill of Rights].Their names then ought not to have been distinguished by federalists and anti-federalists, but rats and anti-rats.”

Elbridge Gerry


73 posted on 12/22/2009 9:23:56 PM PST by Huck (The Constitution is an outrageous insult to the men who fought the Revolution." -Patrick Henry)
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To: DoughtyOne
Has SS and Medicare been deemed Constitutional on challenge?

Not sure about SS specifically, but when several consecutive decisions seemed to indicate that several justices could at least spell "Constitution", FDR, being the Democrat, communist spawn of Satan who would likely have molested little boys if he hadn't had polio, became alarmed. He then started making noises about expanding SCOTUS to 12 justices ("packing"), and the nine suddenly discovered the constitutionality of the New Deal (spit).

Now, believing in stare decisis every bit as much as your typical liberal, I'm all in favor of fixing those decisions at the earliest opportunity.

74 posted on 12/22/2009 9:24:59 PM PST by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: Mariner
"They’ll still pay the federal taxes . . . "

If the voters of Oklahoma have to "still pay the federal taxes" despite the will of the people, then that is taxation without representation.

The states can demand that the U.S. government abide by the constitution--as it was written and intended. If the feds refuse, the states can and should secede.

75 posted on 12/22/2009 9:26:25 PM PST by UnwashedPeasant (Don't nuke me, bro)
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To: Still Thinking
FDR, being the Democrat, communist spawn of Satan who would likely have molested little boys if he hadn't had polio, became alarmed.

That's hilarious. Re: stare decisis, considering Scalia wrote a majority opinion not so long ago affirming Wickard v Fillburn (new deal era commerce clause), I seriously doubt we will see the new deal overturned.

76 posted on 12/22/2009 9:29:05 PM PST by Huck (The Constitution is an outrageous insult to the men who fought the Revolution." -Patrick Henry)
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To: Huck

Huck, you seem pretty comfortable in your role as a wet blanket. I would submit it’s more of a cop out taking the low road than it is to actually offer some solutions of your own. What would you like to see happen?


77 posted on 12/22/2009 9:33:22 PM PST by ForGod'sSake (You have two choices and two choices only: SUBMIT or RESIST with everything you've got!)
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To: Huck
Prepared or not, short of a constitutional recourse, they have no LEGAL recourse. They can rebel. Or they can call a convention.

Perhaps "rebellion lite": just ignore them and don't participate. See how bad the feds want to make an issue of it and what they're willing to do to enforce it.

78 posted on 12/22/2009 9:39:45 PM PST by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: Huck
Scalia wrote a majority opinion not so long ago affirming Wickard v Fillburn

Yeah, Scalia shows some disturbing statist and nationalist tendencies. If he's an "originalist", he's certainly one who sees through a conservative/authoritarian lens. Not sure why he's the darling of the right to the extent that he is. I'd take two more Thomases over eight more Scalias.

79 posted on 12/22/2009 9:46:46 PM PST by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: ForGod'sSake

later


80 posted on 12/22/2009 9:52:41 PM PST by I_be_tc
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