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Buchy: Ohioans Should
Have the Freedom to Determine Fate of Job-Killing Health Care Mandates
COLUMBUS—State Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) today expressed
disappointment that despite unanimous support from the House Republican
Caucus, the Ohio House failed to pass Senate Joint Resolution 1, which
would propose an amendment to the Ohio Constitution to preserve the
freedom of Ohioans to choose their health care and health care
coverage. In order for this resolution to successfully pass from the
House, only one additional vote from the minority caucus was necessary;
however, partisan motives obstructed this common-sense initiative.
Commonly known as the Ohio Health Care Freedom Act, S.J.R. 1—and its
House companion bill, House Joint Resolution 2—would allow the citizens
of Ohio to vote on whether to prohibit any law or rule from forcing any
person, employer or health care provider to participate in a health
care system.
“I respect the ability of Ohioans to choose what is in their
Constitution,” Representative Buchy said. “I am disappointed that not
one Democrat could stand up against the big-brother mentality that has
been exhibited by proponents of Obamacare. This is a decision that
should be left to the citizens.”
Had S.J.R. 1 received just a single Democrat vote, the issue of whether
Ohioans should be forced by the federal government to purchase health
insurance would have appeared on the November ballot. However, despite
the duty of a state representative to reflect those back home, the
House Democrats chose instead to act as a barrier between the federal
government and the people.
As a caucus, the House Republicans believe that all Ohioans should have
a choice of whether or not they should be forced into government-run
health care or if they should have the freedom to choose their own
health care in the marketplace.
“Citizens should not be fined for failure to have health
insurance,” Representative Buchy said. “Since its inception, Obamacare
has catered to interest groups and Democrat donors by providing an
exception to more than 1,400 organizations, big businesses and unions.
As a supporter of Ohio’s small business, I believe this exemption
should be available to everyone.”
A Quinnipiac Poll following the passage of the health care overhaul in
2010 found that Ohioans opposed these federal mandates 56 to 33
percent. The passage of S.J.R. 1 would have respected the vast majority
of Ohioans by permitting the option of including a constitutional
amendment on the November 8, 2011 ballot.
According to this constitutional amendment, no law or rule may force
any person, employer or health care provider to participate in a health
care system, prohibit the purchase or sale of health care or health
insurance, or impose a penalty or fine for the purchase or sale of
health care or health insurance. It also stated that these provisions
are to preserve the freedom of Ohioans to choose their own health care
and health care coverage, based on the best interests and unique
situations of their own families.
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