On April 19, 2012, HB:1534 passed the Missouri House with a vote of 108 to 44! The bill “Declares the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as unauthorized by the United States Constitution and creates criminal penalties for persons enforcing or attempting to enforce the act”
But the good news doesn’t stop there. Inside reports tell us that when the absent Representatives who have committed to vote “yes” are able to do so, HB1534 should have a veto-proof majority.
This is a major step beyond what a number of states around the country – including Missouri – have been doing previously, rejecting just the mandate portion of the federal act.
(To see how your Missouri Representative voted, please see the following link: Ayes and Noes of 1534. If they voted “No”, you may wish to let them know your concern by sending them a polite message. Use the following link to look up your Missouri Representative.)
Additionally, it’s important to notice that when HB1534 was “perfected” in the Missouri House several days ago (with a vote of 109 to 49) – there weren’t any amendments offered. This also is encouraging, as it means that the preferred language, consisting of a Jeffersonian style nullification of Obamacare (along with the arrest of federal officials who attempt to enforce Obamacare), was retained in the bill.
Now that the bill has been passed by the House, it will begin a journey through the Senate – starting with a hearing that hopefully leads to it being taken up for Senate debate. Liberty activists should be ready to encourage the Senate to make this a high priority, as it may be hard finding a sponsor with the passion to get the job done.
Meanwhile, HB1534 has started to receive a bit of attention from the press. For instance, The Kansas City Star writes in the article, “Missouri bill would ban implementing health care law” that “A Missouri House panel has endorsed legislation making it a crime for federal officials to attempt to enforce the 2009 federal health care overhaul in the state.”
And over at the Dailypaul.com, the headline, “Missouri to arrest any federal officials who attempt to enforce Obamacare” encourages readers to stand up and speak out in favor of this bill.
ACTION ITEMS
First step? If you live in Missouri, contact your state senator and politely, but strongly, urge them to pass HB1534. We’d like to see a veto-proof majority in the Senate too.
CLICK HERE – to get contact information for your Missouri Senator
Also, please take a few minutes to thank those who have made this possible so far, and send them an email with “Thank you” in the subject line. Encouraging our leaders is just as important as jumping on them when they don’t do what they want, so let’s give credit where credit is due!
- Rep. Ward Franz – District 151, (allowed HB:1534 through General Laws Committee): Ward.Franz@house.mo.gov
- Rep. John Diehl – District 087, (provided cooperation in the Rules Committee): John.Diehl@house.mo.gov
- Rep. Tim Jones – District 089, (majority floor leader who gave the bill ample debate time): Tim.Jones@house.mo.gov
- Speaker Steve Tilley – District 106, (oversaw HB:1534 through the process): Steven.Tilley@house.mo.gov
- Rep. Kurt Bahr – District 019, (sponsored the bill): Kurt.Bahr@house.mo.gov
Don’t forget, that while HB1534’s passage in the House is a meaningful victory – we’ll need to be ready to convince Senate leadership to also make healthcare liberty a priority for our people.
Please utilize the following link to review the status of HB1534.
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CLICK HERE To track healthcare nullification legislation nationwide:
CLICK HERE for TAC model legislation, Federal Health Care Nullification Act
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