PREPPING FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM NULLIFICATION…. Following up on an item from July, there’s at least a chance that policymakers will eventually agree on a health care reform bill, and the landmark legislation will become law later this year.
At which point, right-wing state lawmakers will begin their efforts to block reform before it’s implemented. Far-right Republicans have already taken steps in that direction in Florida and Texas, and Georgia is going down the same road. (via Zaid Jilani)
A group of Republican state senators on Thursday said they want to amend the state’s Constitution in an attempt to stop Democrats in Washington from enforcing health care reform here.
Sens. Judson Hill (R-Marietta) and Chip Rogers (R-Marietta) were joined by about half a dozen colleagues to unveil their plans. The resolution would be introduced when lawmakers return in January.
The proposed amendment would, Hill and Rogers said, would allow Georgia to invoke the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution…. Hill and Rogers argue that the health care reform bill being debated in Congress would violate the 10th Amendment and that their state amendment would protect Georgia from having to participate in any federal reform.
Proponents added, later in the day, that Georgians would still be able to get Medicare and Medicaid. It’s this other government intrusion in health care they don’t think is unconstitutional. Initially, Judson Hill was asked if Medicare should be considered illegal, and he said he wasn’t sure.
Chip Rogers added that he supports Medicare, but not government-run health care like “our friends in Canada” have.
About one in three Georgians lack health care coverage. Some state representatives want to make sure it stays that way.
