First Step in Stopping ObamaCare in Texas

The following letter about the Texas Health Freedom Act was sent in from Texas State Representative Ken Paxton:

In March 2010, Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as "ObamaCare." President Obama signed it into law shortly thereafter. The federal health care legislation is a substantial overreach of the federal government power through a mandate that requires individuals to purchase health insurance or pay a tax. The federal health care legislation also puts additional burdens, both regulatory and financial, upon the states, forcing Texas to dedicate additional funds to Medicaid instead of education, roads, and tax relief.

The Health Freedom Act is a popular measure that has been filed in 41 separate states across the county. In Texas, the Health Freedom Act is proposed as a constitutional amendment as House Joint Resolution 24. This constitutional amendment, if passed by the Legislature this session and then the people of Texas in November, will do the following:

  • Amends Article 1 of the Texas state constitution to prohibit the state, a state agency, a state official, or a political subdivision from enacting, effectuating, collecting, or enforcing a penalty or sanction that would deny an individual's right to choose their health insurance coverage.
  • Passage of this amendment would protect an individual's ability to participate or not to participate in the health care system, free of penalties or sanctions and the right of individuals to purchase lawful services without fear of penalties or sanctions.
  • This constitutional protection would prevent the state legislature from over-reaching on any future health care reform initiatives in the way Congress over-reached on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
  • This constitutional amendment keeps individuals in control of their own health care instead of allowing the government to make or influence choices for us.

Each of us desires to have a basic safety net for health care; that is not the question. The examples set for us from other states show that free-market perspectives do the most good in keeping costs contained, providing consumers choice, and lowering government spending. Limiting the power of the state to mandate health care insurance and from enacting penalties will provide for individual liberties and point Texas in the direction of free-market solutions in health care. Let's allow the voters the choice to put a constitutional protection in place to give them the ability to choose their own health care providers and insurance coverage.

The State Sovereignty Committee is scheduled to meet upon adjournment of the House on Thursday, in room E2.010. The meeting is open to the public, if you're able to be in Austin. Also, you will be able to watch the proceedings online, at this website. Watch this Facebook page for updates.

Let's protect Texans from federal overreach. Spread the word about HJR 24, the Texas Health Freedom Act.

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