This morning, I was joined in the State Capitol by John Coupal from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and John Graham, Director of Healthcare studies at the Pacific Research Institute to introduce Senate Constitutional Amendment 29. This Amendment, known as the "California Healthcare Protection Act" will give California voters veto power over potentially restrictive state and federal healthcare legislation.
SCA 29 would require voter approval of any state or federal measure implementing a healthcare program mandating individuals to obtain healthcare coverage, guarantee issuance of health care coverage, creates a "pay or play" system for employers, creates a government entity to compete with private plans or creates a single-payer healthcare system. Voter approval would be required for any program containing at least one of these five provisions.
Ensuring that voters maintain control of their personal healthcare choices and allowing them to be heard is critically important. California families have a right to affect changes that would take personal decisions like choosing a family doctor, out of their hands and into the control of out-of-touch politicians. Too often, the illusion is that the only way to reform healthcare is through a massive shift of control from individuals to a faceless, inefficient government bureaucracy. Voters understand that there are other options and should have their voices heard in this debate.
At a time when California is facing a $20 billion deficit, its citizens should have the ability to stop legislators, who aren’t listening to them, and prevent the creation of a $200 billion healthcare program that has no funding source and will harm job growth. We need to focus on restoring the economy and creating jobs rather than spending money we don’t have on programs that won’t work.
For more information, please visit my website and view the video here.
February 26th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Good idea, but not likely gonna be passed by your Democratic Party colleagues in the majority would most likely need a costly ballot measure fight perhaps in the November election.
February 26th, 2010 at 12:00 am
This is the problem….too many initiatives, too many laws, too many politcians and want-ta-bees crying wolf!….stop the madness….less kissing the butts of politicans and start taking care of yourself!
February 26th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Good idea, Tony. Maybe some day the Democrats will come on board and vote with the people, rather than trial lawyers and union thugs. If not, we need to vote them out.
February 28th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Who would care what the voters think? The liberals do not. This is a great idea that I fully support and thank you Tony for putting this together.