Republicans urge Attorney General to file suit
Calling it a sad day for American, Oklahoma House and Senate Republicans say the federal health care reform bill will cost the state billions and make it more difficult for state’s to address their indigent population.
Nearly 40 Republicans gathered Monday afternoon to express their displeasure for the health care reform bill that passed Congress last night.
Republicans are asking Attorney General Drew Edmondson to file a lawsuit objecting to the far-reaching powers of the federal government.
House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, had this to say:
We are entering era of activist government like we have never seen. We have a government that believes we can be all things to all people. We have a government that has no boundaries and no consequence when it comes to fiscal prudence. We have a government that believes it can create some utopian society or a perfect world without suffering and pain.
Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said national health care plan would cost the state money and saddled future generations with debt.
The era of big government is back with a vengeance.
The health care bill is a disaster for the states, not just for Oklahoma, but all states. In truth, it’s the Democrat jobs elimination bill of 2010. This has taxes totaling at least half a trillion dollars.
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Comments
A law that went against the majority opinion of the citizens of this nation and the constitution. Mr. Edmondson, file suit.
They’re sore losers, and completely following the Republican script which says: “Make the President fail at all costs” Unfortunately, they would make him fail at the cost of the American people.
Republicans have used deceptive tactics and attacks on this from the start they are in bed with the insurance companies or something there is a whole lot of upside to thiss bill this is a significant domestic achievement once in a while you get a chance to make a really big difference and that was done by a lot smarter politicians then what Oklahoma has to offer. We have a bunch of self serving lame ducks that are party blind and afraid to make a move it is easy to ride the fence or say oh yes we need this but not this START SOMEWHERE and get over it. If they want to do something put some effort in repealing the food tax in Oklahoma and stop the people that want to keep the tax on people for eating.
Who say’s the majority of the people did not want this last time I checked we did not vote on this Republicans like to throw this around but real people do not always get in on polls called to the gop fundraisers house or they just dont take the time to talk to people on the phone plus margins of error blah blah blah People said the polls would not let Obama become prez. but here we are so live with it and know that when you say the people you are not talking for me and lots more of us out here that do not care about polls and townhall crap tea partys we will show up to vote though and thats when it will count. COUNT ON IT BITTER PEOPLE
republicans are just sore they lost the election and are doing all the can to discredit the present administration. Republicans have stooped so low its sickens me. Now they want to spend state dollars we don’t have to file a law suit? when so many of our programs are out of funds? This is just to put on a show to help them in the next election. They don’t care about the people here, Oklahomans NEED healthcare. I have had 3 friends DIE in the past year due to the fact they got sick, then fired cause they couldn’t work because of their illness, so they lost their insurance, then the hospital did NOT give them the treatment they needed because they couldn’t pay for it. SO they die. All you politicians have healthcare, so what do you care about those of us that don’t? You know you can’t win a lawsuit, so why are you going to waste the states money trying??? I will answer that for you…for you own political gain, thats why.
My daughter died when she had an acute asthma attack in Ok and the ambulance took her to Integris on 44th & Western and they turned her away because she was on Medicaid and not working and told the ambulance driver to take her to a walk-in clinic down the street. She was blue and unconscious when they got her to the Walk-in Clinic and they sent her back to Integris because she needed to be on a respirator and oxygen. By the time she got back to the Hospital she was put on the necessary machines but her Doctor Singh said she was brain-dead because of loss of oxygen to her brain with all the back and forth time it took them to get her into an ICU… So even if people have Medicaid or Medicare that does not guarantee the hospitals and Doctors will treat them like someone with other Insurance. My mother got cancer after buying Blue Cross and Blue Shield for her whole life when she was healthy but she still had to take a personal check for $3,000.00 every time she had a chemo treatment at the Cancer Facility on 44th Street even though she had paid for the best insurance.
If the majority “of the people” did not want this HCR Bill then, if I were Nancy Pelosi I would feel kinda “dirty” for all of the backroom sweetheart deals and pressure they put on all the Congressman in order to, get it done.
As I understand HJR 1054, the State of Oklahoma guarantees that no one can be forced to purchase health insurance, and no one can be penalized for not having purchased health insurance. Further, no one, either directly or via an employer, can be denied the right to pay cash for services rendered. In my humble opinion, this may be a beneficial thing inspite of its intention. The way this is written I don’t think a doctor or hospital can turn you down for care on the basis of which company or plan you have or don’t have. To me, this means that doctors can no longer turn away Medicare insurance patients and may even not be able to turn down Medicaid patients. If they refuse, you are being penalized for having a specific type of insurance, and have grounds for legal redress. If they insist upon cash, you are still being penalized for having a specific type of insurance and have grounds for suit. If you offer a payment plan using cash and they refuse, you are being penalized for having prepared enough for your treatment to have purchased insurance, and you may have grounds for legal suit. If they accept, maybe you come out ahead anyway. Maybe they discount for cash. What would really make this interesting is if the state of Oklahoma intercedes on behalf of the citizen being penalized. Some states are proposing this, and while it is intended to foil the federal government, it can be used against the state as well. We shouldn’t hesitate to do this. The State is using the 10th Amendment language about reserving rights to the State, but the same language reserves those rights to the people, and we, as people, might see it differently than the State. It will be very interesting to see how the lawyers work this out. Very expensive, too. But that’s the price you pay when you weave a tangled web, using people like pawns in some partisan quest for power and influence.
This is totally ridiculous. A bill that will benefit millions of people and the Republicans are acting an azz and I am so tired of them thinking they speak for every American. Well this American is glad the bill pass and will be definitely voting for Democrats in 2010.