Oklahoma Voters May Nullify Fed Health Care Law in November

LifeSiteNews ^ | May 26, 2010 | Peter J. Smith

[ForGod'sSake]

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, May 26, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Voters in Oklahoma will be given a chance in November to decide whether they want to reject the core of the recently-enacted national health care reform, which includes taxpayer-funded abortion and requires individuals to buy health insurance or pay a penalty, thanks to a legislative action that bypassed the objections of pro-abortion Democrat Gov. Brad Henry.

The state’s House of Representatives approved Senate Joint Resolution 59 with a strong bipartisan majority of 88-9. SJR 59 allows citizens to vote up or down a state constitutional amendment that would prohibit “forced participation in a health care system,” and allow individuals to pay directly for health services and carry private health insurance.

The House had waited to act on the Senate resolution, in hopes of overriding the governor’s veto of a resolution that would have enacted the ban via statute. However, after the veto override attempt failed last week, the House enacted the version putting the question to voters.

Because the SJR 59 is a referendum question, the decision will bypass the governor and go directly to the people on the November 2 state ballot. The measure is based on American Legislative Exchange Council’s model Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act.

If enacted, Oklahoma will follow the lead of Virginia, Idaho, and Arizona in challenging President Barack Obama’s signature legislation on the basis of state law, but with a twist: the Virginia challenge to the health care bill is based on a state statute, while Oklahoma would up the ante with a constitutional amendment.

Voters in Florida and Arizona will also go to the polls in November to vote on constitutional amendments opting their states out of the national health care law.

“This constitutional amendment will provide Oklahomans with a powerful legal protection against the federal government’s attempt to insert itself into everyday decisions that affect their finances and health,” said Rep. Mike Thompson (R-Oklahoma City), the measure’s sponsor in the House. 

He said that legislators were “adamant” that Oklahomans have an opportunity to reject a federal takeover of their health care. 

“States have the authority to protect the liberty of their citizens,” Thompson said. “Clearly a close, functional relationship between doctors and their patients is preferable to one dictated by the federal government.”

Gov. Henry’s office condemned the passage of SJR 59, saying that the resolution would only drive Oklahoma into a futile lawsuit with the federal government that would be ruled unconstitutional for conflicting with federal law.

Twenty states are already suing the federal government for constitutional overreach in enacting President Obama’s health care reform.

The attorneys general of Florida, Texas, South Carolina, Georgia, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Utah, Alabama, Washington, Colorado, Michigan, South Dakota, Idaho, Indiana, Nevada, North Dakota, Mississippi, and Arizona have filed a joint lawsuit in US District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

Virginia is engaged in a separate lawsuit filed with the federal district court in Richmond, where the Justice Department has filed a motion asking the court to dismiss the case. 

In all cases, the states assert that the federal mandate on individuals carrying health insurance or pay penalties, violates the prohibition against the direct taxation of individuals outlined in Article I, sections 2 and 9 of the US Constitution. They also invoke the Tenth Amendment reserving to states all powers not delegated to the federal government.

[ForGod'sSake]

This has been a bit confusing for me; from earlier in the week re the OK HOUSE:

Legislators override health care veto (Lawsuit challenge of Commiecare™ revived in Oklahoma)

From the video HERE, State Senator Brogdon confirms the OK senate did NOT override the RAT governor's veto of that piece of legislation. The result was the measures taken indicated in this thread.

That may or may not clear things up but I did my best. ;^)

[ForGod'sSake]

Oklahoma legislature taking the fight to odinga and his RAT minions!

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
Health Care Nullification

CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES

[Pantera]

OK should get rid of that deadbeat Dem governor and elect Constitutionally sound Brogden.

[ForGod'sSake]

OK should get rid of that deadbeat Dem governor and elect Constitutionally sound Brogden.

The good news is the RAT gov is out o' there in November due to term limits. OK will almost certainly elect a Pubbie gov next go round. And yeah, Brogdon would be a keeper as well as another in the hunt whose name escapes me.

[Enterprise]

Go Oklahoma! Be careful now, Obama might threaten to have y'all arrested.

"Obama Threatens 14 US Governors With Immediate Arrest for the crime of treason."

Obama Threatens to arrest 14 US Governors

[o_zarkman44]

Missouri votes on the “Health Care Freedom Act” on Aug 3rd. Nothing is mentioned about Missouri. We wanted the Constitutional Amendment, but the State Senate version was a change in statute and the House compromised. The Missouri Bill bypasses the governor completely and goes to a vote of the people.

But might I add WAY TO GO OKLAHOMA!

[savedbygrace]

Fallin.

[ForGod'sSake]

UHHHH, WTH???

[Libloather]

As Oklahoma goes. so goes the nation.

[Libloather]

WTH?

What don't you git - the clickin' or the readin'?

[Enterprise]

I know! Pretty scary stuff! I got it from this thread: (Post #24)

Sestak-gate: White House Offered Romanoff Job, Too (A Impeachable Firestorm is Brewing)

[Enterprise]

And I might add, copy the article and file it before Big Brother finds a way to make it disappear.

[ForGod'sSake]

Nothing is mentioned about Missouri.

Yeah, but we all know Missouri has been in the fight. The OK legislature's initiatives took a similar route as Mizzou. Putting the kebash on odingacare on the ballot was because the senate couldn't override the Rat gov's veto.

[Brett66]

Oh yeah! With governor golly gee-whiz out in November we’ll be able to stop this at the state’s borders, we could also band together with surrounding states to get health plans across state lines.

Since the Federal government won’t do it, states will!

[dalebert]

hey we are trying

[dalebert]

they still say its not a crime. just business as usual

[ForGod'sSake]

Well, just color me skeptical. I did a quick search and aside from the link, found nada, zip, zilch about these “letters”. For that matter I haven’t heard any rumblings about any States mobilizing their militias/state guards, etc. Not sayin’ it ain’t so, just that I’ve not seen anything. Will keep my eyes and ears open however.

[newheart]

And yeah, Brogdon would be a keeper as well as another in the hunt whose name escapes me.

That would be Mary Fallin. And she is not simply 'in the hunt' but she is probably the next gov. Just ask Sarah Palin.

But, yes, Brogdon is a keeper. Just not for gov right now.

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

These poor deluded states...Don’t they know that federal nullities supercede state actions. You don’t think these 9 God wanabe SC judges would rule for the constitution? Not likely.

[Enterprise]

In the original post, the poster states that this has been scrubbed from congress.org. Chilling if it is true though.