Stouffer: Make Your Voice Heard on Health Care

You will see a very important question on your August 3 ballot. Proposition C came about as a result of work done by the Missouri General Assembly during this year's regular session.

The Health Care Freedom Act was added to House Bill 1764. Predictably, some folks tried to keep this from appearing on the ballot, but their demands were thrown out by a judge.

Here is what you will see on your ballot:

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?

It is estimated this proposal will have no immediate costs or savings to state or local governmental entities. However, because of the uncertain interaction of the proposal with implementation of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, future costs to state governmental entities are unknown.

Fair Ballot Language:  A "yes" vote will amend Missouri law 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. The amendment will also modify laws regarding the liquidation of certain domestic insurance companies.

A "no" vote will not change the current Missouri law regarding private health insurance, lawful healthcare services and the liquidation of certain domestic insurance companies.

If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.

The bottom line is, you will decide whether or not Missouri should prohibit any law from forcing a patient, business owner or health care provider to take part in any health care system, be it government or privately run. At least 42 other states are working to enact similar legislation, but we are the first to let the voters make the decision. The entire country will be watching the Show-Me State to see what will happen.

Unfortunately, only around 24 percent of voters are expected to go to the polls on August 3, according to the Secretary of State's office. I understand that it is tough to get folks out to vote with so much going on this time of year, but it is vitally important to exercise our civic duty and right.

I believe the vote on Proposition C will do a lot to reinforce support for sovereignty and give a message nationwide that states are tired of being told what to do by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. This is our opportunity to take control and reaffirm our rights as Americans.