Rupp: Missouri Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Health Care Freedom

Citizens Draw Line Between Federal and State Decisions

Nearly 940,000 Missourians throughout the state made their way to the polls on August 3 to make their voices heard.  Perhaps one of the most important measures to hit the ballot was the decision for health care freedom.

Proposition C, which passed by an overwhelming 71 percent by Missouri voters, amends Missouri Statutes to deny the federal government the authority to penalize our state's citizens for refusing to purchase private health insurance and infringe upon the most basic rights we hold as Missourians, including the right to decide how we will take care of ourselves and our health care needs.  In the 2^nd District, Lincoln and St. Charles county voters followed the statewide trend by supporting the proposition with 76 percent of the vote.

It all started with the passage of the federal health care bill earlier this year, in which the "Affordable Care Act" was signed on March 23.  Proponents of the act said it would put into place comprehensive health insurance reforms that would hold insurance companies more accountable, lower health care costs, guarantee more health care choices, and enhance the quality of health care for all Americans.  In fact, since this measure was signed into law, citizens in states across our nation have been trying to let those in Washington, D.C. know that they don't want a federal law to force them to buy health insurance.

That's why I signed on, with 19 of my Senate colleagues, to co-sponsor a measure that would prohibit laws interfering with an individual's freedom of choice in health care.  The "Health Care Freedom Act" was included in House Bill 1764 and was approved by the General Assembly, placing the issue before voters in the August election.

Voters made sure to stand up for their rights, reinforcing their belief that Missourians should be able to choose their own health care products and services without living in fear of being fined or imprisoned for not participating in any government or privately run health care system.  This does not, however, reject any federal health care option nor take away an individual's choice to participate in the federal health care plan. Missourians drew a significant line regarding the role the federal government plays in determining very personal decisions — our health care.  I am proud to have worked to get this issue before the citizens of this state and will continue to serve the rights of those who elected me to serve as their voice in Jefferson City.

Plan H Opens Gate to Possible Flooding in 2^nd Senatorial District

I recently submitted a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, U.S. Congressman Todd Akin, and Missouri Gov. Jeremiah "Jay" Nixon regarding Plan H and its possible impact on the citizens of Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles counties, two of which I represent in the Missouri Senate.  Below is the letter I wrote to Colonel Thomas O'Hara, District Engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

I'm writing this letter in regards to Plan H, which is a proposal for levee alterations along the Upper Mississippi River in Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois.  This is a matter of urgent concern to me, especially in light of the fact that many people are not aware of this plan or its ramifications.

Plan H calls for building taller, wider and stronger levees along the Mississippi River all the way down through Iowa, Northern Missouri and Illinois, until it gets to Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles counties in Missouri.  In these three counties, the plan does not include building flood-proof levees.  Instead, it calls for about half of the counties' levees to be improved while the other half is required to be left as is.  The lands behind the unprotected levees have been designated as "flood water storage areas."  Mississippi River bottom lands north of these counties would receive federal protection from flooding, with the three counties of Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles, two of which I represent in the Missouri Senate, left unprotected against the threat of floods.  This is totally unacceptable.

I am asking that you oppose this plan, as it will make the counties of Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles the dumping ground for future floods.  This would be devastating to my constituents in the 2^nd Senatorial District.  I have written Gov. Nixon, both U.S. Sens. Christopher Bond and Claire McCaskill, and Congressman Todd Akin stating my opposition to Plan H and asked for their support in opposing the plan as well.  I believe that further studies need to be done in order to truly understand the effects of building these better levees, new hydrology and flow studies on the more recent floods since 1993 need to be done, and public hearings need to be held in the areas that will be affected, namely the three counties that will be left unprotected.

If you have any questions or comments about this week's column or any other matter involving state government, please do not hesitate to contact me.  You can reach my office by phone at (866) 271-2844.