Ruestman: Health Care: You Decide

The issue of states’ rights seems to be a continual battle. The national radical progressive agenda has put every state on notice as individual and state rights are quickly being diminished.

The strongest example of this is the national health care plan passed by the Democrat majority in Congress in February. It is appalling that the federal government wants to mandate you to purchase health insurance. This bill also infringes on your right to privacy as the federal government is now going to be aware of medical decisions you make and the cost of your insurance and treatment.

Beyond all that, this bill was originally estimated to cost approximately $940 billion. This is a staggering number when you take into account our national debt, which will soon be $13 TRILLION. Worse yet, the Congressional Budget Office recently announced their original estimates were short by $115 billion! This is a fine example of how inefficient government programs are. In April, Alan Greenspan was quoted as saying that the consequences were “severe” if the CBO estimates were wrong.

In the General Assembly we felt the issue was of such consequence that it should be decided by the voters. Congress seems to have ignored the cry of Americans in our state and nationwide to leave our health care alone forcing us to act on the state level. House Bill 1764, which is going to a vote of the people on the August 3^rd primary ballot, prohibits any person, employer or health care provider from being compelled to participate in a health care system.

In addition to the above clause, it protects your right to pay directly for lawful health care and providers can accept payment from any individual without being subject to fines or penalties. If passed, the purchase or sale of private health insurance could not be prohibited by any law.

This bill is essential to protecting the free enterprise in health care. We know the government doesn’t run any program well (remember Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae?). Why would we trust it with something so personal and important to our well-being?

On August 3^rd I encourage you to support this measure and protect our liberties in Missouri.

If you have problems, questions or wish to express concern over an issue, please do not hesitate to contact me or my Legislator Assistant, Jonathan, at my Capitol office either by phone 573-751-9801 or by e-mail at Marilyn{dot}Ruestman{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.