Ron's Journal Archive
Federal takeover of our country's health care systems a major issue
3/25/2010
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Federal takeover of our country's health care systems continues to be a huge issue. How does health care policymaking in Ohio interact with what continues to flow out of Washington, D.C.?
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Several efforts are under way to have Ohio stand up to some of the most objectionable aspects of enactment of federal legislation and immediate attempts to amend it with a second bill. Inside our state legislature there is activity. Outside the legislature an initiative process has begun.
I will explain here why the efforts inside the legislature are not likely to produce action before next year. For that reason I am especially supportive of a citizen effort to ask voters to amend a protection into our state constitution by the initiative process. On Saturday, march 20, the Ohio Liberty Council announced that it will seek to place a provision on the ballot this November in an effort to preserve a free market health care environment for Ohio.
The provisions of this initiative are similar to those in HJR 3, which I joined to propose in the Ohio House of Representatives on August 26, 2009. You can review this three-page proposal by following the link to HJR 3. This week SB 244 was introduce in the Ohio Senate, proposing to enact similar provisions as state law. Unfortunately, I see legislative action as almost certain to face road blocks that will prevent enactment. This is because the Ohio House has leadership and a majority of members aligned with support for the federal health care legislation. The Senate bill would also have to go to Governor Ted Strickland. Since he has stated his support for the federal legislation as well, making a veto quite probable.
Given this year's political dynamics it is a real possibility that a majority of Ohio House members and a governor will be elected this November that would support having Ohio exert independence for our state on this issue. That could allow for a constitutional amendment to go to voters in 2011.
In the mean time action in 2010 is likely to be possible only by a citizen initiative like the one proposed by the Ohio Liberty Council. Petitions are being prepared for circulation across Ohio as a means of placing the question of its adoption before voters this Fall. According to information provided by the Council, here is what the constitutional provision would do and would not do:
The proposed amendment would provide that:
1.In Ohio, no law or rule shall compel, directly or indirectly, any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in a health care system.
2. In Ohio, no law or rule shall prohibit the purchase or sale of health care or health insurance.
3. In Ohio, no law or rule shall impose a penalty or fine for the sale or purchase of health care or health insurance.
The proposed law would not:
1. Affect laws or rules in effect as of March 19, 2010.
2. Affect which services a health care provider or hospital is required to perform or provide.
3. Affect terms and conditions of government employment.
4. Affect any laws calculated to deter fraud or punish wrongdoing in the health care industry.
Paid for by Citizens For Amstutz, Matthew Hochstetler Treasurer, 4456 Woodlake Trail, Wooster, OH 44691