Nodler: Missouri Says ‘Yes’ to Proposition C

Missourians throughout the state went to the polls on Tuesday and made their voice heard. The federal health care bill that will impose an unprecedented violation of personal freedom and raise costs for individuals, businesses, and states has been rejected by the people of our state.

When Congress passed the health care bill and it was signed into law earlier this year, citizens throughout the country expressed their concern, disappointment, and outrage at this violation of personal freedoms. On August 3, for the first time since the federal bill’s passage, citizens had the opportunity to make their opinions heard at the polls. The result is an overwhelming majority—71 percent—of Missourians standing up to say that they do not want the federal government to violate their personal freedom. In the 32nd District, the average support for the proposition in Dade, Newton, and Jasper counties was more than 80 percent.

Proposition C, also called the Health Care Freedom Act, was passed by the Legislature during the 2010 legislative session and placed on the ballot. With its passage, Missouri statute is amended to make sure the 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 health care services.” This solidifies the right of Missourians to choose their health care, whether that be a government plan, private plan, or no plan at all.

In November, two more states—Arizona and Oklahoma—will vote on a measure similar to the one approved in Missouri. At least 20 individual states, including Missouri, have also taken action to challenge health reform in the courts. States throughout the country are proposing or have passed changes to law or their constitution to fight these federal health care mandates. While Congress ignores the will of the people, Missouri voters have made their voice heard.

I applaud the voters of Missouri for taking this opportunity to speak out against the actions of the federal government and support health care freedom in our state. Our message to Washington, D.C. is clear: we do not want government mandates and will speak out to protect our personal freedoms.