Cunningham: Health Care Freedom Act Update

Constituents and Friends of the Health Care Freedom Act-

We are all so very grateful for the amazing progress on the Health Care Freedom Act made this week.  Rep. Tim Jones' HJR57 passed the House overwhelmingly and my SJR25 was referred to the Senate Calendar for debate.

SENATE DEBATE STARTS THIS COMING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24TH AT 10AM.  I warmly invite you to participate in this part of the process.  There are 265 seats in the visitors gallery and filling them is our goal.  It will be a show of support and force to the entire senate and the media.

What to expect:

Debate, floor speeches and inquiries have unlimited time in the senate unlike the House where members are limited to 15 minutes.  The process can be frustrating and takes patience but the senate is designed to be a slower, more deliberative body.

Some bills take many hours to debate and some even continue on non-consecutive days.  That is part of the process to take a break and keep coming back to it at opportune times.  However, both you and legislators will be able to see what the opposition is, arguments and specific senators, so we can refocus for the second round and you can get constituents within those specific senator's districts to lobby them.

The visitors' gallery is for public observation, not participation.  Senate rules require no applause, publicly audible responses nor flash photography.

Adherence to the discipline of these rules allows uninterrupted debate and will help our cause.

We are all so grateful for your interest in this vital legislation that will shield us from the federal mandates and protect our freedoms.

If you cannot make the trip to Jefferson City, you can listen to the debate live at www.senate.mo.gov.  Click on "live debate.....senate".