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Health Care Freedom Act on Ballot
Sunday, July 25, 2010

In addition to the party primaries voters will decide one state-wide ballot proposition next Tuesday, August 3rd. On that ballot you will find Proposition C, the “Health Care Freedom Act” which was passed in the last legislative session by a bipartisan, super majority vote of the House and Senate. The General Assembly placed it on the August 3rd primary ballot as an opportunity for Missourians to express their views on being forced into government defined health insurance products.

For over a year, many Americans from Massachusetts to Missouri to California have rallied time and again against government run health care. In town hall meetings, outdoor protests and in the voting booth, many have sent Washington a clear message: No. Washington did not listen despite the fact the clearly over half of all Americans strongly oppose this idea pushed by the President.

But the Missouri legislature did listen, and we passed the “Health Care Freedom Act”. Many believe that efforts within the Federal Government threaten to put complete control over individual’s health care in the hands of government bureaucrats, partisan politicians, and appointed “experts.” Government control means you will have less freedom to make the health care choices that are best for you and your family. In my opinion patients should have the right to pay directly for medical services with their own money. That’s because when consumers control the dollars, the patient makes the medical treatment decisions. When the government controls the dollars, they make treatment decisions based on what’s best for the government, not what’s best for the patient.

Proposition C provides Missourians a voice in the future of their own health care. A "Yes" vote preserves your present right to keep your own health insurance plan or choose any other private plan or no plan without being penalized for that choice. It also allows Missourians to select the federal government designed and approved insurance plan.

A "No" vote on Proposition C would limit Missourians to only a federal government designed and approved plan. Passage of Proposition C creates two guidelines for future health reform: the right to opt out of a government-sanctioned health care system and the right to spend your own money on lawful medical services. It does not require that the state opt out of any federal program or bar Missourians from participating in any plan of their choice including the federally designed plan.

The ballot language reads:
Shall the Missouri Statutes be amended to:
*"Deny the government authority to penalize citizens for refusing to purchase private health insurance or infringe upon the right to offer or accept direct payment for lawful healthcare services.
*Modify laws regarding the liquidation of certain domestic insurance companies?"

The entire language of the two page bill may be found at the following link: http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills101/biltxt/truly/HB1764T.HTM .

If Proposition C passes on August 3rd, it will become a Missouri statute. Missourians will be the first Americans in the nation to have a vote on this issue. It is a very important election. Many people around the country will be watching for the Show-Me State election results. Whether you support or oppose this legislation, I encourage you to vote on August 3rd.