Stouffer: Avoiding Congress' Mistakes on Healthcare

The idea to takeover 20 percent of the nations' Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would be done without your input, if our nation's leaders pass health care legislation currently being debated in Washington, D.C. The idea to opt out of the federal takeover of health care should be left up to you.

Many believe the U.S. Constitution provides no authority for Congress to enact this type of legislation and ignore states' rights. I agree.

I, along with 16 of my colleagues in the Missouri Senate, am co-sponsoring Senate Joint Resolution 25, which would attempt to allow Missouri to opt out of any federal laws that would interfere with your freedom of choice in health care.

Unlike the so-called health care "reform" measure that is being debated in the U.S. Senate, the constitutional amendment we are introducing in the Missouri Senate would go to a vote of the people. If the resolution passes out of the General Assembly, and voters approve the measure as well, it would not affect laws or regulations that are on-the-books as of January 1, 2010.

As I have discussed in the past, the current plans on Capitol Hill are filled with tax increases. Even though health care reform would not start until 2013, the tax hikes would take effect immediately, creating a pool of money for the federal government to utilize in order to start the ball rolling in four years.

These proposals have a direct and indirect effect on all taxpayers in Missouri and our state budget.

Some of the tax increases include penalties for not signing on to whatever plan the federal government mandates, taxes on doctors and hospitals for not cooperating and new fees on things like wheelchairs and hearing aids. Everyone would be hit by these outrageous penalties — not just tax hikes on the rich — all in the name of "reform."

When Congress went home for its summer break earlier this year, most members held town hall meetings. These gatherings were filled with people who had a great deal of concern about what was in the bill. Unfortunately, most Congressmen had not read anything in the bills, much less bill summaries, and had no idea what was in the thousands of pages contained in the bill.

But, citizens have been reading the bills, staying up-to-date on this issue and they are not happy. Sadly, Congress is continuing to move ahead with this and ignoring the American public.

I have every confidence Senate Joint Resolution 25 will pick up more co-sponsors and more momentum as the session progresses next year, making its way to your November, 2010 ballot. I pray the men and women in Congress will wake up and understand that taking over one-sixth of the GDP and controlling health care issues, such as who can see their doctor, is NOT a part of the America I know and love.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will write more about health care "reform," what states plan to opt out of the plan and what ideas are out there that are better than what the president says he wants and our country needs.


Senator Stouffer serves the counties of Carroll, Chariton, Cooper, Howard, Lafayette, Macon, Ray, Saline, and a part of Clay.
If you have questions or comments about this or any other issue, please call toll free (866) 768-3987 or by e-mail at bstouffer{at}senate{dot}mo{dot}gov