BrianGarst.com

I’ll be very proud of my home state if this goes through:

In response to what some opponents see as a Congress that doesn’t represent their interests, State Legislators are looking to the nearly-forgotten American political tradition of nullification as a way to reject any potential national health care program that may be coming from Washington.

The most recent effort comes from Florida State Senator Carey Baker and State Representative Scott Plakon, who this week filed a proposed State Constitutional Amendment (HJR37) as a means to prevent Floridians from being affected by any Federal Health Care Legislation.  If approved by the legislature, Florida residents could be voting on it as early as 2010.

HJR37 would deny the ability of any new law to impose demands, restrictions or penalties on health care choices on Floridians. Versions of proposed federal health care reform legislation have included insurance coverage mandates, and certain penalties on employers who fail to provide employee health insurance.

Even if this does pass, however, the state of Florida itself still imposes demands, restrictions and penalties on health care choices of Floridians.  According to the Council for Affordable Health Insurance, Florida currently places 52 mandates on insurance providers, including  benefits for drug abuse treatment, hair prothesis and occupational therapy.  These restrictions on consumer choice harm Floridians just as much as they would if they originated from the federal government.