Florida considers opting out of health reform (and 6 others may do the same)

[Cass]

Even if Congress does enact national health insurance reform this year, a number of states including Florida are seriously considering opting out.

On July 27, Florida State Senator Carey Baker (Eustis))and State Representative Scott Plakon (Longwood) submitted a proposed State Constitutional Amendment (HJR37) which essentially calls for nullification of any federal health care legislation. If passed by the state legislature, the amendment will be placed on the ballot, perhaps as early as next year. Approval requires 60 percent of the voters. According to a website site up by the legislators, “it essentially sets up a Tenth Amendment challenge to ObamaCare.” There are already several co-sponsors (Adams; Carroll; Dorworth; Drake; Ford; Hays; Hudson; O'Toole; Precourt; Proctor; Renuart; Snyder)

Florida is not alone in attempting to nullify any potential federal healthcare law passed by Congress this year. A proposed Constitutional Amendment to effectively ban national health care will be on the 2010 Arizona ballot, having successfully passed both state legislative bodies. Indiana, New Mexico, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wyoming are considering similar measures.
<...>
Unless its sponsors drop HJR 37, the Florida legislature will be voting on the resolution when the meet again sometime after March 2010.
http://www.examiner.com/x-9303-Miami-Health-Care-Examiner~y2009m8d21-Florida-considers-opting-out-of-health-reform

Can Florida opt out of federal health care?

Central Florida GOP lawmakers are planning to combine vocal opposition to Obama's health-care initiative with the right's fears that the president is coming after their guns and freedom. They're called the "Freedom Bills."
...
A similar bill has been filed in Louisiana, and Plakon said he has been in touch with legislators in a dozen other states planning to introduce similar measures.
...
Rep. Marlene O'Toole, R-Lady Lake, has another "freedom bill" (HB 21) to shield Florida gun owners and dealers from federal regulation of weapons and ammo produced and sold within Florida — to short-circuit the "Commerce Clause" power of Congress to regulate guns even if they don't cross state lines.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/orl-loccapview-column-090609090609sep06,0,489814.column

This is the first I am hearing about this. These wing nuts are off the charts! Why don't they opt-out of Medicare, too, while they are at it.:mad:

[joeycola]

1. Even Russ Feingold is saying that it may be better to let it up to the

states to reform their own health care. Or pilot programs via the states. He said this a few weeks go at one of his town halls.

[napi21]

2. Cute manuver, but it won't work. The 10thers cn't make their

wishes happen. Beyond that, the Gov't option is exactly that AN OPTION! What do these people not understand? There is no mandate. Nobody HAS to enroll in the gov't OPTION! Gheesh! A lot of Americans are really stupid!

[Cass]

8. The distortions have really taken hold in the minds of the deluded public.

They have very little understanding of reality.

[napi21]

16. NO S....! n/t

[Altoid_Cyclist]

18. I think that the word "option" has too many letters for their brains to comprehend.

[whathehell]

20. I'm absolutely in favor of the Public Option, but, as I uderstand it

There would be a mandate to paying for it, use it or not.

[napi21]

25. Not as far as I know. It would be no different than any other HC ins co. The members payments pay

for the care that is used. Like auto ins or homeowners ins most of the members don't need to use it.

[jaxx]

3. Opt out of medicare too....

Or opt them out. Let the seniors know what they would be losing when their legislators cut off their noses to spite their faces. I don't think the seniors would go for that.

[OHdem10]

9. These states will get more Medicare and Medicaid assistance

while other states pay more into Medicare, Medicaid.

The standing story in SC is how Strom Thurmond would fenagle
so much assistance for his state--yet he would never vote
for any Medicare Legislation to improve it. Disproportionate
amount of benefits for his state. I am not dissing the dead
here just repeating a very real and true story. RIP.

[BlooInBloo]

4. Heh.

[2Design]

5. wow - empty florida of people - do away with medicare too then - these people are crazed n/t

[2Design]

6. this is just getting out the rw vote again to try to get more repugs into office n/t

[Kookaburra]

7. Won't that automatically opt them out of Medicare as well?

It's federally maintained.

[Cass]

10. I wonder about that, too. nt

[KatyMan]

17. And isn't it a subtle step

toward secession?

[damntexdem]

22. Two concepts: (1) interstate commerce and (2) general welfare.

The Tenth gives "other" powers "to the states and to the people."

[Ruby the Liberal]

11. Then yank their Medicare.

That would end well.

[stray cat]

12. Should progressive states have the option of inacting single payer plans?

maybe it isn't a bad idea.

[anonymous171]

13. Good. The less money they take the more we will have to spare. nt

[KansDem]

14. Of the states mentioned, only Florida and Minnesota pay more in federal taxes...

...then they get back in federal spending.

As for the other states, for ever dollar paid to the Feds--
Arizona gets back $1.19
Indiana gets back $1.05
New Mexico gets back $2.03 (<=what's up with this??!!!)
North Dakota gets back $1.68
Wyoming gets back $1.11

http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/266.html

It never fails to amaze me how many of the "No Public Option" option states receive more from the Federal Government than they pay in taxes.

And they scream "No Socialism" and "Stop Wasting My Money" :rofl:

What a bunch of fucking, stupid assholes!!!* GET OFF THE PUBLIC DOLE, YOU SLACKERS!!!

________
*And calling them "assholes" demeans the function of real assholes which serve a useful purpose

[DireStrike]

24. I wonder why this has any traction in Minnesota

I assumed that florida would be the only state in the list that even approached not being another in-the-red red state.

Minnesota though, weird.

[Joanne98]

15. Cut off ALL their federal monies. Medicare, SS , NASA, military, agricultural and ALL contracts.

Keep Medicaid and foodstamps!

[quiet.american]

19. Utter and complete idiots. The whole lot of them. nt

[damntexdem]

21. And when Floridians want to sign up for health coverage, will Florida try to jail them?

Unless the SCOTUS really goes off the rails, the "nullification movement" will find the only thing nullified is itself.

[moondust]

23. Are they trying to get rid of "poor people"?

Are the Tenthers trying to drive "poor people" who will become eligible for covered access to health care out of their states? Or prevent "poor people" from moving there because those states won't have covered access for everybody? What's the real motive?

[eomer]

26. Can the Federal law be written to preempt state law, just like ERISA does? n/t