Tilley: Proposed Health Care Compact Could Bypass Unfunded Federal Mandate

State governments all across the country are tired of the encroachment of the federal government. As a result, several States have banded together to sue the Federal Government, asking judges to strike down Obamacare as unconstitutional. These efforts are making progress, as several courts have now found the law unconstitutional. However, other courts have upheld the law.

The US Supreme Court will ultimately determine if the law is constitutional or not. If they do the right thing, they will get rid of the problem – but there is no telling what will happen, and it could be years. Worse yet, the court may side with the lower courts that have upheld the law.

The bottom line is that we need to do everything possible to make sure Obamacare does not ravage our state’s healthcare system with its unfunded mandates and crippling tax increases. Simply put, when the prices of operating a business go up, the easiest place to save money is on labor. Businesses operating on the margins might have to fire people just to comply with Obamacare.

In the Missouri House we have a plan. This week, Representative Burlison introduced HB 423, which creates a “Health Care Compact” with other states to fight Obamacare.

A compact is a legal device that states can use to work together aside from the Federal Government. We already have compacts on issues as diverse as energy production, our border with Nebraska, and the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Compacts can be given legal powers from Congress that overrules Federal Laws, like Obamacare.

By consenting to this Compact, Congress agrees that each Member State can enact state laws that supersede any federal regulations within the state in the area of health care. This would allow us to create our own laws governing healthcare for individuals in Missouri.

The first step is to pass the compact out of the various states and we definitely should because we can’t rely on the courts to take care of this problem for us. Once the compact is enacted in a number of states, it then goes to Congress.

Step one is in Missouri – and I urge every one of you to put pressure on Missouri’s government to get this compact passed.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve here in the House of Representatives. As always, I welcome your comments. You may reach me at 573-751-1488, send your e-mails to steven{dot}tilley{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov or write to me at the Missouri House of Representatives, State Capitol, Room 308, Jefferson City, MO 65101.