Ridgeway: Proposition C - Missouri Health Care Freedom

Vote "Yes" to Opt-Out of ObamaCare
Vote "No" if you support ObamaCare

There is an election next Tuesday, August 3rd.  On that ballot you will find Proposition C, the Health Care Freedom Act which was passed in the last legislative session by a bipartisan, super majority vote of the House and Senate.  I voted FOR it in the Missouri Senate.

Proposition C provides Missourians a voice in the future of their own health care.

A "Yes" vote on Proposition C preserves your present right to keep your own health insurance plan or choose any other private plan or no plan without being penalized for that choice.  It also allows Missourians to select the federal government designed and approved insurance plan.  A "Yes" vote is your first opportunity as a citizen to express your opposition to the federal healthcare bill that has come to be known as "ObamaCare". By voting "yes" on Prop.C (the Healthcare Freedom Act), you will be sending a message to Washington D.C. that you want the federal government to stay out of your healthcare options.

A "No" vote on Proposition C would limit Missourians only to a government designed and approved plan.  A "No" vote on Prop. C sends a message to Washington D. C. that you are okay with the federal government controlling your healthcare choices.

The ballot language reads:
Shall the Missouri Statutes be amended to:

• "Deny the government authority to penalize citizens for refusing to purchase private health insurance or infringe upon the right to offer or accept direct payment for lawful healthcare services.
• Modify laws regarding the liquidation of certain domestic insurance companies?"

The entire language of the two page bill may be found at the following link: http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills101/biltxt/truly/HB1764T.HTM.

It simply states that government may not, "penalize citizens for refusing to purchase private health insurance or infringe upon the right to offer or accept direct payment for lawful healthcare services." It does not require that the state opt out of any federal program or bar Missourians from participating in any plan of their choice including the federally designed plan.

If Proposition C passes on August 3rd, it will become a Missouri statute.

While our current healthcare system is not perfect, it is by far the best system in the world.  President Obama and a majority in Congress are seeking to impose their values and laws on our health system that has, up to this point, been run by state law and private enterprise.  I prefer the latter.

The most telling reason to support Proposition C (Missouri Healthcare Freedom Act) is that Congress has EXEMPTED themselves from all the healthcare and insurance mandates that they seek to impose on us.  So the Washington D.C. political ruling class sets up rules for us regular folk, but exempt themselves.  If it's so good, then why are they exempt?

Missourians will be the first Americans in the nation to have a vote on this issue.  It is a very important election.  Many people around the country will be watching for the Show-Me State election results.

If ObamaCare is not stopped, it will require enormous tax hikes to pay for it.  It is estimated that ObamaCare will require Missouri to add over 400,000 people to the welfare roles.  Cuts to education, veterans, public safety, our courts and the disabled will be the result -- again, unless the federal law is stopped.  A "yes" vote on Proposition C will go a long way to help us stop implementation of the federal ObamaCare law.

Feel free to call me if you have any questions, and I encourage you to forward this alert to your friends and family.  I will be voting "yes" on Proposition C, the Missouri Healthcare Freedom Act next Tuesday, August 3.

For a better Missouri,

Senator Luann Ridgeway