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‘Being forced into a health care system, or being fined for refusing to join, are not actions with which the great majority of people in our state and across the nation agree,’ says Hinkle

 

Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, introduced legislation today giving Washington state citizens protection from President Obama’s nationalized health care plan.

Dubbed “The Washington state Health Care Freedom Act of 2010,” the bill would protect employers and workers from possible fines levied at the federal level for not participating in a socialized medicine plan.

“Throughout the summer and fall, my office has been inundated with e-mails and phone calls from citizens who are angry about the direction our federal government is taking in terms of health care,” Hinkle said.  “People are scared of losing access to health care, the freedom to make their own decisions, and the high quality of care they’re used to receiving.  I’ve been asked numerous times to do what I can.  Today’s legislation is a direct response to hearing from so many concerned citizens.”

Hinkle’s legislation also states that no rule or law pertaining to health care shall directly or indirectly compel any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system.

“An individual’s health care is a very personal matter,” Hinkle said.  “If the federal or state government wants to provide more choices and more freedom, fine.  But the people should absolutely retain their rights – their freedom – to choose for themselves.  Being forced into a health care system, or being fined for refusing to join, are not actions with which the great majority of people in our state and across the nation agree.”

House Bill 2669 is part of a package of bills being sponsored by House Republicans which seek to emphasize and enforce the 10th Amendment.  The 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution states that any powers not specifically granted to the federal government, or prohibited by the state, are reserved for the states and the people.  The bill ends with this language:

“Any federal law, rule, order, or other act by the federal government violating provisions of this section is hereby declared to be invalid in this state, is not recognized by and is specifically rejected by this state, and is considered as null and void and of no effect in this state.”

“With the direction our federal government is heading, and with the continued usurpation of power and the peoples’ rights coming from Washington D.C., there is a need to be reminded of how our United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights view power and the rights of citizens,” Hinkle said.  “There is a growing grass-roots movement within our state and nation that is focusing on this principle.  I commend them and encourage them to continue to hold elected officials accountable to the oaths of office we have all taken to uphold our state and national constitutions.”

Hinkle said other 10th Amendment bills being introduced by colleagues in the state House include legislation dealing with self-defense, greenhouse gas emissions and ‘cap and trade,’ firearms, state sovereignty, presidential elections, and the initiative and referendum processes.

 

For more information, contact: Brendon Wold, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7698

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