All eyes were on Capitol Hill recently as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act made its way through the United States House of Representatives before being signed by President Barack Obama two days later. While the Democrat-led measure was approved right down Washington’s partisan battle-line, several state legislatures across the nation have begun taking action to combat this intrusive, and possibly unconstitutional, federal expansion of healthcare. I am happy to say that Ohio is helping to lead the charge.
Last week, all 21 Republican members of the Ohio Senate submitted a formal letter to Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray urging him to join the AGs of 14 other states in challenging the constitutionality of the federal healthcare reform. Also, my colleagues, Senators Shannon Jones (R-Springboro) and Tim Grendell (R-Chesterland), have introduced Senate Bill 244 that would ensure that no Ohioan would be mandated by the federal government to maintain a health insurance policy, whether it is a private, state, or federal plan. In addition, the legislation would require the Attorney General to take immediate action in combating any policy that would be introduced in opposition to this principle. I intend on helping my colleagues to push this bill while continuing to be a vocal opponent of the recently passed federal legislation.
The passage, and subsequent signing, of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act serves as yet another example of the federal government restricting the rights of the state and suppressing the will of its citizens. Though we find ourselves living in the dawn of the 21st Century, we must never forget the promise set forth by our Founding Fathers over two centuries ago. Their vision was that of a united nation comprised of several sovereign states, free to decide what is best for their citizens when not interfering with federal law. Just last year, I sponsored SCR 13 which reaffirmed the right of Ohio as a sovereign state by way of the Tenth Amendment. The resolution was favorably passed by the Senate, but now finds itself at a standstill in the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives.
Now, nearly 30 states are pursuing constitutional amendments in an effort to create distance between the states’ citizens and the federal healthcare changes. While our President and members of Congress pitched their plan as “reform”, the simple truth is that they have failed to fix anything at all.
Over the past several months, my office has received thousands of calls from citizens concerned with this controversial expansion of health care. It is doubtful that such concern will simply quell in light of this bill’s passage. With that said, I urge all of you to continue reaching out to your United States Congressmen, Senators, and all elected officials and allow your opinions to be heard. I applaud all of you who have taken part in this public debate and ask that you all continue following this issue in the future.
