The Ohio Liberty Council is a statewide alliance of 25 grassroots organizations which includes The Cincinnati Tea Party and The Cincinnati 9/12 group. On Monday morning the coalition released a statement in which it announced that it will propose a, “state constitutional amendment that will ‘preserve the freedom of Ohioans to choose their healthcare and healthcare coverage.’” The amendment was drafted by the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law with the intent of protecting Ohioans from the financial burdens and individual mandates contained in the healthcare bill, which Obama is expected to sign into law on Tuesday.
Ohio Liberty Council also stated that, “The group filed constitutional amendment summary language and more than 3000 signatures from registered voters in 42 counties with the Ohio Secretary of State and Attorney General. The amendment language is available at http://www.ohiolibertycouncil.org. Today’s filing by the Ohio Liberty Council is the nation’s first citizen-initiated action.”
Karen Best, founder of the Cincinnati 9/12 Project said in a written statement on Sunday evening that, “As our people travel back from Washington DC, our petitions are on their way to Columbus to amend the Ohio Constitution to nullify this bill for the citizens of Ohio. They will be filed in the morning, and though 1000 signatures in the last 24 hours were all we needed, I believe we are turning in the maximum allowed…Thanks to all who circulated these (petitions) so quickly, and thanks to all who signed… In addition to that, know that many lawsuits will be filed the moment that this bill is signed by Obama. Attorneys General across this country are lining up.”
A Reuters article on Monday printed a prepared statement from Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum: "The health care reform legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last night clearly violates the U.S. Constitution and infringes on each state's sovereignty. On behalf of the State of Florida and of the Attorneys General from South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Pennsylvania, Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota and Alabama, if the President signs this bill into law, we will file a lawsuit to protect the rights and the interests of American citizens."
A http://www.newsmax.com article reported on Thursday that The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has said that, “twenty-six states have proposed amendments to their state constitutions that would ban the individual mandate requirement. Thirteen other states are moving to block the individual mandate by altering state statutes rather than amending their state constitutions.”
The article also stated that, “Many legal scholars assume federal law would automatically overrule any state-level legislation. But other scholars say that would not necessarily occur in the case of healthcare reform, because there is no precedent for regulating interstate commerce that isn’t already taking place.”
Interestingly, during last night’s House debates, a House Republican made it a point to explain that Obama can’t use an executive order to change the law, and that if he tries to do so, it’s only a piece of paper and not anything more.
Newt Gingrich said through his American Solutions for Wining the Future organization that, “This will not stand. No one should be confused about the outcome of Sunday's vote. This is not the end of the fight - it is the beginning of the fight. The American people spoke decisively against a big government, high tax, Washington knows best, pro-trial lawyer, centralized and bureaucratic health system. In every recent poll the vast majority of Americans opposed this monstrosity.”
He also stated that, “It is hard to imagine how much pressure they brought to bear on congressman Stupak to get him to accept a cynical, phony, clearly illegal and unconstitutional executive order on abortion. The ruthlessness and inhumanity of the Obama-Pelosi-Reid machine was most clearly on display in their public humiliation of Stupak.” Gingrich added that, “The real principles of the machine were articulated by Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings who was impeached and removed from the bench as a federal judge, before being elected to the House when he said, ‘There ain't no rules here, we're trying to accomplish something...All this talk about rules...When the deal goes down...we make 'em up as we go along.’"
Chris Littleton, The Ohio Liberty Council President, stated that, “The Ohio Liberty Council seeks to preserve the freedom of Ohioans to choose their healthcare and healthcare coverage. With the passage of untenable national mandates on health insurance, the federal government is trampling on the direct constitutional authority and responsibility of state legislatures. This constitutional amendment will do what our leaders in the Statehouse have failed to do – protect Ohioans from federal mandates on personal behavior.”
“Obamacare significantly erodes individual liberties because of its severe penalties for non-compliance,” said 1851 Center Executive Director Maurice Thompson. “The federal government – through the IRS –now has the power to levy tens of thousands of dollars in fines on individuals who do not purchase health insurance from government-sanctioned private providers. The Ohio Liberty Council’s constitutional amendment will protect Ohioans from this draconian overreach.”
The amendment provides that:
• In Ohio, no law or rule shall compel, directly or indirectly, any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in a health care system;
• In Ohio, no law or rule shall prohibit the purchase or sale of health care or health insurance; and
• In Ohio, no law or rule shall impose a penalty or fine for the sale or purchase of health care or health insurance.
The amendment does not:
• Affect laws or rules in effect as of March 19, 2010;
• Affect which services a health care provider or hospital is required to perform or provide;
• Affect terms and conditions of government employment; and
• Affect any laws calculated to deter fraud or punish wrongdoing in the health care industry.
Here is a complete state-by-state roll call, as compiled by the Associated Press. It details who voted yes and who voted no for this bill -- something that will certainly be remembered in November.
ALABAMA
Democrats: Bright, N; Davis, N.
Republicans: Aderholt, N; Bachus, N; Bonner, N; Griffith, N; Rogers, N.
ALASKA
Republicans: Young, N.
ARIZONA
Democrats: Giffords, Y; Grijalva, Y; Kirkpatrick, Y; Mitchell, Y; Pastor, Y.
Republicans: Flake, N; Franks, N; Shadegg, N.
ARKANSAS
Democrats: Berry, N; Ross, N; Snyder, Y.
Republicans: Boozman, N.
CALIFORNIA
Democrats: Baca, Y; Becerra, Y; Berman, Y; Capps, Y; Cardoza, Y; Chu, Y; Costa, Y; Davis, Y; Eshoo, Y; Farr, Y; Filner, Y; Garamendi, Y; Harman, Y; Honda, Y; Lee, Y; Lofgren, Zoe, Y; Matsui, Y; McNerney, Y; Miller, George, Y; Napolitano, Y; Pelosi, Y; Richardson, Y; Roybal-Allard, Y; Sanchez, Linda T., Y; Sanchez, Loretta, Y; Schiff, Y; Sherman, Y; Speier, Y; Stark, Y; Thompson, Y; Waters, Y; Watson, Y; Waxman, Y; Woolsey, Y.
Republicans: Bilbray, N; Bono Mack, N; Calvert, N; Campbell, N; Dreier, N; Gallegly, N; Herger, N; Hunter, N; Issa, N; Lewis, N; Lungren, Daniel E., N; McCarthy, N; McClintock, N; McKeon, N; Miller, Gary, N; Nunes, N; Radanovich, N; Rohrabacher, N; Royce, N.
COLORADO
Democrats: DeGette, Y; Markey, Y; Perlmutter, Y; Polis, Y; Salazar, Y.
Republicans: Coffman, N; Lamborn, N.
CONNECTICUT
Democrats: Courtney, Y; DeLauro, Y; Himes, Y; Larson, Y; Murphy, Y.
DELAWARE
Republicans: Castle, N.
FLORIDA
Democrats: Boyd, Y; Brown, Corrine, Y; Castor, Y; Grayson, Y; Hastings, Y; Klein, Y; Kosmas, Y; Meek, Y; Wasserman Schultz, Y.
Republicans: Bilirakis, N; Brown-Waite, Ginny, N; Buchanan, N; Crenshaw, N; Diaz-Balart, L., N; Diaz-Balart, M., N; Mack, N; Mica, N; Miller, N; Posey, N; Putnam, N; Rooney, N; Ros-Lehtinen, N; Stearns, N; Young, N.
GEORGIA
Democrats: Barrow, N; Bishop, Y; Johnson, Y; Lewis, Y; Marshall, N; Scott, Y.
Republicans: Broun, N; Deal, N; Gingrey, N; Kingston, N; Linder, N; Price, N; Westmoreland, N.
HAWAII
Democrats: Hirono, Y.
IDAHO
Democrats: Minnick, N.
Republicans: Simpson, N.
ILLINOIS
Democrats: Bean, Y; Costello, Y; Davis, Y; Foster, Y; Gutierrez, Y; Halvorson, Y; Hare, Y; Jackson, Y; Lipinski, N; Quigley, Y; Rush, Y; Schakowsky, Y.
Republicans: Biggert, N; Johnson, N; Kirk, N; Manzullo, N; Roskam, N; Schock, N; Shimkus, N.|
INDIANA
Democrats: Carson, Y; Donnelly, Y; Ellsworth, Y; Hill, Y; Visclosky, Y.
Republicans: Burton, N; Buyer, N; Pence, N; Souder, N.
IOWA
Democrats: Boswell, Y; Braley, Y; Loebsack, Y.
Republicans: King, N; Latham, N.
KANSAS
Democrats: Moore, Y.
Republicans: Jenkins, N; Moran, N; Tiahrt, N.
KENTUCKY
Democrats: Chandler, N; Yarmuth, Y.
Republicans: Davis, N; Guthrie, N; Rogers, N; Whitfield, N.
LOUISIANA
Democrats: Melancon, N.
Republicans: Alexander, N; Boustany, N; Cao, N; Cassidy, N; Fleming, N; Scalise, N.
MAINE
Democrats: Michaud, Y; Pingree, Y.
MARYLAND
Democrats: Cummings, Y; Edwards, Y; Hoyer, Y; Kratovil, N; Ruppersberger, Y; Sarbanes, Y; Van Hollen, Y.
Republicans: Bartlett, N.
MASSACHUSETTS
Democrats: Capuano, Y; Delahunt, Y; Frank, Y; Lynch, N; Markey, Y; McGovern, Y; Neal, Y; Olver, Y; Tierney, Y; Tsongas, Y.
MICHIGAN
Democrats: Conyers, Y; Dingell, Y; Kildee, Y; Kilpatrick, Y; Levin, Y; Peters, Y; Schauer, Y; Stupak, Y.
Republicans: Camp, N; Ehlers, N; Hoekstra, N; McCotter, N; Miller, N; Rogers, N; Upton, N.
MINNESOTA
Democrats: Ellison, Y; McCollum, Y; Oberstar, Y; Peterson, N; Walz, Y.
Republicans: Bachmann, N; Kline, N; Paulsen, N.
MISSISSIPPI
Democrats: Childers, N; Taylor, N; Thompson, Y.
Republicans: Harper, N.
MISSOURI
Democrats: Carnahan, Y; Clay, Y; Cleaver, Y; Skelton, N.
Republicans: Akin, N; Blunt, N; Emerson, N; Graves, N; Luetkemeyer, N.
MONTANA
Republicans: Rehberg, N.
NEBRASKA
Republicans: Fortenberry, N; Smith, N; Terry, N.
NEVADA
Democrats: Berkley, Y; Titus, Y.
Republicans: Heller, N.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Democrats: Hodes, Y; Shea-Porter, Y.
NEW JERSEY
Democrats: Adler, N; Andrews, Y; Holt, Y; Pallone, Y; Pascrell, Y; Payne, Y; Rothman, Y; Sires, Y.
Republicans: Frelinghuysen, N; Garrett, N; Lance, N; LoBiondo, N; Smith, N.
NEW MEXICO
Democrats: Heinrich, Y; Lujan, Y; Teague, N.
NEW YORK
Democrats: Ackerman, Y; Arcuri, N; Bishop, Y; Clarke, Y; Crowley, Y; Engel, Y; Hall, Y; Higgins, Y; Hinchey, Y; Israel, Y; Lowey, Y; Maffei, Y; Maloney, Y; McCarthy, Y; McMahon, N; Meeks, Y; Murphy, Y; Nadler, Y; Owens, Y; Rangel, Y; Serrano, Y; Slaughter, Y; Tonko, Y; Towns, Y; Velazquez, Y; Weiner, Y.
Republicans: King, N; Lee, N.
NORTH CAROLINA
Democrats: Butterfield, Y; Etheridge, Y; Kissell, N; McIntyre, N; Miller, Y; Price, Y; Shuler, N; Watt, Y.
Republicans: Coble, N; Foxx, N; Jones, N; McHenry, N; Myrick, N.
NORTH DAKOTA
Democrats: Pomeroy, Y.
OHIO
Democrats: Boccieri, Y; Driehaus, Y; Fudge, Y; Kaptur, Y; Kilroy, Y; Kucinich, Y; Ryan, Y; Space, N; Sutton, Y; Wilson, Y.
Republicans: Austria, N; Boehner, N; Jordan, N; LaTourette, N; Latta, N; Schmidt, N; Tiberi, N; Turner, N.
OKLAHOMA
Democrats: Boren, N.
Republicans: Cole, N; Fallin, N; Lucas, N; Sullivan, N.
OREGON
Democrats: Blumenauer, Y; DeFazio, Y; Schrader, Y; Wu, Y.
Republicans: Walden, N.
PENNSYLVANIA
Democrats: Altmire, N; Brady, Y; Carney, Y; Dahlkemper, Y; Doyle, Y; Fattah, Y; Holden, N; Kanjorski, Y; Murphy, Patrick, Y; Schwartz, Y; Sestak, Y.
Republicans: Dent, N; Gerlach, N; Murphy, Tim, N; Pitts, N; Platts, N; Shuster, N; Thompson, N.
RHODE ISLAND
Democrats: Kennedy, Y; Langevin, Y.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Democrats: Clyburn, Y; Spratt, Y.
Republicans: Barrett, N; Brown, N; Inglis, N; Wilson, N.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Democrats: Herseth Sandlin, N.
TENNESSEE
Democrats: Cohen, Y; Cooper, Y; Davis, N; Gordon, Y; Tanner, N.
Republicans: Blackburn, N; Duncan, N; Roe, N; Wamp, N.
TEXAS
Democrats: Cuellar, Y; Doggett, Y; Edwards, N; Gonzalez, Y; Green, Al, Y; Green, Gene, Y; Hinojosa, Y; Jackson Lee, Y; Johnson, E. B., Y; Ortiz, Y; Reyes, Y; Rodriguez, Y.
Republicans: Barton, N; Brady, N; Burgess, N; Carter, N; Conaway, N; Culberson, N; Gohmert, N; Granger, N; Hall, N; Hensarling, N; Johnson, Sam, N; Marchant, N; McCaul, N; Neugebauer, N; Olson, N; Paul, N; Poe, N; Sessions, N; Smith, N; Thornberry, N.
UTAH
Democrats: Matheson, N.
Republicans: Bishop, N; Chaffetz, N.
VERMONT
Democrats: Welch, Y.
VIRGINIA
Democrats: Boucher, N; Connolly, Y; Moran, Y; Nye, N; Perriello, Y; Scott, Y.
Republicans: Cantor, N; Forbes, N; Goodlatte, N; Wittman, N; Wolf, N.
WASHINGTON
Democrats: Baird, Y; Dicks, Y; Inslee, Y; Larsen, Y; McDermott, Y; Smith, Y.
Republicans: Hastings, N; McMorris Rodgers, N; Reichert, N.
WEST VIRGINIA
Democrats: Mollohan, Y; Rahall, Y.
Republicans: Capito, N.
WISCONSIN
Democrats: Baldwin, Y; Kagen, Y; Kind, Y; Moore, Y; Obey, Y.
Republicans: Petri, N; Ryan, N; Sensenbrenner, N.
WYOMING
Republicans: Lummis, N.
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