GOP, tea parties unite to put health care issue on Nov. 8 ballot

Posted by gadsden Activism, Breaking News Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

By: William Hershey, Daytondailynews.com

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Republican Party and tea party groups across the state have joined forces to give voters a chance to reject a key part of the federal health care overhaul championed by President Barack Obama.

The effort is aimed at winning approval of a constitutional amendment to ex-
 empt Ohio from the so-called individual
mandate in the health care law — the requirement that by 2014 everyone must participate in a health care plan.

The amendment could change the dynamics of the Nov. 8 election by putting two major proposals on the ballot.

Opponents of Senate Bill 5, legislation to restrict collective bargaining rights for public employees, also are gathering signatures to put a repeal of that law before voters.

So far, momentum has been with Democrats, unions and other backers of the SB 5 repeal. If the health care amendment makes the ballot, it might attract GOP voters inclined to support the amendment and SB 5 to the polls.

Because state law or state constitution can’t supersede federal law, voter passage of the amendment could be mostly symbolic, say constitutional law experts, including Richard Saphire of the University of Dayton School of Law.

However, Chris Littleton, leader of the Ohio Liberty Council, the umbrella group for some 70 tea parties across the state, said the amendment is directed
not only at the current federal law, but also at any state or federal effort to compel Ohioans to participate in a health care plan.

“It’s one of the largest invasions of liberty we’ve seen in my lifetime,” Littleton said of the federal law.

To read more, visit:  http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/politics/gop-tea-parties-unite-to-put-health-care-issue-on-nov-8-ballot-1151843.html

Short URL: https://reteaparty.com/?p=1094