ST. LOUIS, MO. Missouri voters will decide if they want federal law to force them to buy health insurance, as the “Health Care Freedom Act” has now passed the House and goes to the Secretary of State to be placed on the August primary ballot. If the voters approve, no federal law could force a patient, employer, or health care provider to participate in any government or privately run health care system designed by the state or federal government.
The Constitution Party of Missouri opposed the health care legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the President on March 23. At that time, State Chair, Donna Ivanovich, said, “The Federal government has no constitutional authority to be attempting a take-over of our health care system and, instead, should be passing laws reducing or eliminating federal involvement in health care”.
The Constitution Party Platform makes this statement concerning health care and government involvement, “The Constitution Party opposes the governmentalization and bureaucratization of American medicine. Government regulation and subsidy constitutes a threat to both the quality and availability of patient-oriented health care and treatment.”
The United States Constitution does not contain the words “health insurance, health care, medicine or doctor”. Congress has absolutely no constitutional authority to regulate health insurance, hospitals, doctor or insurance companies. Our free market system will do that through the market place, IF THE GOVERNMENT WILL GET OUT OF THE WAY. Furthermore, the Federal government certainly does not have any authority to tell American citizens they have to purchase health insurance or be fined or jailed.
Tuesday, the Missouri General Assembly passed House Bill 1764, which will be submitted to the voters for approval on August 3, 2010. This proposed referendum states, “no person or business in Missouri can be compelled to purchase health insurance, nor can they be fined for not having health insurance.”
The Constitution Party of Missouri supports the General Assembly for taking this major step to protect the citizens of Missouri from unwarranted, illegal and un-constitutional intrusion by the Federal government into their lives and liberty; especially at a time when Missourians and small businesses need help the most.
