DEMOCRATS SOLIDIFY SUPPORT OF OBAMACARE, DERAIL HEALTH CARE FREEDOM ACT

NASHVILLE, TN, 6/10/2010, Tennessee Republican Party- Late last night, Democrats successfully killed legislation to protect Tennesseans from Obamacare. The Tennessee Health Freedom Act made it to conference, but during the final vote on the conference report, 39 Democrats voted no and kept the bill from reaching the 50 ayes needed to pass.

"Obviously the majority of Democrats in the State House support Obamacare for Tennesseans," said Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney. "These Democrats seem to believe that a trillion-dollar government-run disaster that damages our economy, harms small businesses, raises taxes, and slashes seniors' Medicare benefits is good policy for our state. They couldn't be more wrong. Democrats have chosen to blatantly disregard Tennesseans' concerns about government-run health care and proved once again how out-of-touch they have become with voters in this state."

Last night's vote took place on a conference report which was the result of merging HB 2622 and SB 2560, both of which were passed earlier in the week by the State House and State Senate. The conference report can be found here.

Democrats voting against the conference report are as follows:
Rep. Armstrong, Rep. Borchert, Rep. Brown, Rep. Camper, Rep. T. Cobb, Rep. Cooper, Rep. Curtiss, Rep. J. DeBerry, Rep. L. DeBerry, Rep. Favors, Rep. Ferguson, Rep. Fincher, Rep. Fitzhugh, Rep. Fraley, Rep. Gilmore, Rep. Hackworth, Rep. Hardaway, Rep. S. Jones, Rep. U. Jones, Rep. Kernell, Rep. Litz, Rep. Maddox, Rep. Moore, Rep. Naifeh, Rep. Odom, Rep. Pitts, Rep. Pruitt, Rep. Richardson, Rep. Shaw, Rep. Shepard, Rep. Sontany, Rep. Stewart, Rep. Tidwell, Rep. Tindell, Rep. Towns, Rep. J. Turner, Rep. M. Turner, Rep. West, Rep. Winningham.

Commentary

The Tennessee Health Freedom Act failed by only six votes. Three of the Democrats who voted against the bill could be replaced by Republicans this November.

Representative Sherri Jones is being challenged by Duane Dominy for State House seat 59. Duane is currently a Metro Councilman representing Council District 28.

Representative Gary Odom is being challenged by Tim Lee for State House seat 55. Gary Odom is a long-time House Democratic leader who engineered the backroom deal that made Republican turn-coat Kent Williams Speaker of the House. A defeat for Gary Odom would be a real cause for celebration.

Representative Mike Turner is being challenged by Bison Rancher and small businessman Charles Williamson for State House seat 51. You may know Mike Turner for having said that he believes those who oppose Obama's policies must be racist.

Representative Ben West is retiring and not seeking reelection. Rep. West's vote against the Tennessee Health Freedom Act is disappointing. West is a respected legislator and generally perceived as the last of the dying breed of conservative Democrats. Whoever wins the Democratic nomination to replace West will be to the left of West in this conservative-leaning district. The Republican nominee for House seat 60 will be Jim Gotto who is currently a metro councilman representing Council District 12. Many believe Jim Gotto is favored to win this seat, however the Democratic machine is expected to pour everything they have into this race to keep this seat in Democratic hands.

We have a unique opportunity to change the make up of the House this year. Elections do matter. Remember this vote on The Tennessee Health Freedom Act this November when it come time for you to cast your vote. If you want to help these good Republican candidates get elected, go to their web site and contribute and sign up to volunteer in their campaign.

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Health Freedom Act passes subcommittee!

Health Freedom Act passes subcommittee! One less hurdle... about 2 hours ago via mobile web

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Tennessee Health Freedom Act

Below is the analysis and summary of the Tennessee Health Freedom Act copied from web site of the Tennessee General Assembly. Democrats are trying to block passage of this bill. Conservative activist are lobbying hard for passage. A battle rages in Tennessee. What makes this bill more than a symbolic gesture is that under this act, the Attorney General is required to defend anyone who is prosecuted for exercising his or rights under this bill.

SB 3498 by *Beavers, Tracy, Black, Crowe, Norris, Johnson, Watson, Ramsey, Faulk. (*HB 3433 by *Bell, Weaver, Harwell, Carr, Williams, Dunn, McDaniel, Matheny.)

Health Care - As introduced, enacts "Tennessee Health Freedom Act." - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

Fiscal Summary

Increase State Expenditures - Not Significant

Bill Summary

This bill provides that it is the public policy of this state that every person within this state is and will be free to choose or decline to choose any mode of securing health care services without penalty or threat of penalty, and this bill provides that with this bill the state is exercising its sovereign power to declare this public policy.

This bill provides the following in regard to this state public policy:

(1) The policy stated in this bill will not be applied to impair any right of contract related to the provision of health care services to any person or group;
(2) No public official, employee, or agent of this state or any of its political subdivisions may act to impose, collect, enforce, or effectuate any penalty in this state that violates the public policy set forth in this bill; and
(3) It is the duty of the attorney general and reporter to seek injunctive and any other appropriate relief as expeditiously as possible to preserve the rights and property of the residents of this state, and to defend as necessary this state, its officials, employees and agents in the event that any law or regulation violating the public policy set forth in this bill is enacted by any government, subdivision or agency thereof.

ON FEBRUARY 17, 2010, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 3498, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 specifies that it will be the public policy of this state for Tennesseans to be able to choose their mode of securing health care services without penalty or threat of penalty by the federal government.

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Resolution urging the State House to pass the Tennessee Health Freedom Act

Tonight the Davidson County Republican Party passed a resolution urging the State House to pass the Tennessee Health Freedom Act and urging the State Attorney General to file suit to challenge the constitutionality of the Health Care Reform Act. I drafted the resolution for the DCRP. House committee Democrats have The Tennessee Health Freedom Act bottled up in committee. Below is the text of the letter to the committee and the accompanying resolution.


March 23, 2010

TO: Members of the Commerce Committee/Industrial Impact

FROM: Kathleen Starnes, Chairman

RE: Passage of the Tennessee Health Freedom Act

At its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 23, the Davidson County Republican Party unanimously passed a resolution urging the State House to pass the Tennessee Health Freedom Act and requesting the State Attorney General to file suit to challenge the constitutionality of the recently passed Health Care Reform Act (HR 3590 passed 3/21/10).

A copy of the DCRP’s resolution is included with this cover memo and is being
provided to every committee member.

We believe the ideas and concerns expressed in this resolution speak for a great majority of citizens and GOP leaders in Tennessee whose voices and opinions were ignored or rebuffed by members of our United States Congress.

We ask you, as the governing leaders of our State, to hear the voice of the people for rational health care reform that relies on market forces and empowers the individual.

Thank you.


A Resolution Urging Passage of the Tennessee Health Freedom Act and Requesting the Tennessee Attorney General to File Suit Challenging the Constitutionality of the Health Care Reform Act (HR 3590 passed 3/21/10)


WHEREAS the Davidson County Republican Party (DCRP) recognizes the need for health care reform that will expand health care coverage and control costs, we support rational reform, including tort reform and the lifting of the prohibition on purchasing insurance across state lines,

WHEREAS we believe that the most efficient and equitable policies for reforming health care are those that rely on market forces and empower the individual,

WHEREAS we oppose the recently passed Health Care Reform Act which will greatly expand government control over the health care sector which is 1/6th of the U.S. economy,

WHEREAS we oppose the Health Care Reform Act that was passed on a strictly partisan vote employing arm-twisting, corruption, and parliamentary procedures designed to thwart the will of the majority of the American people,

WHEREAS we support the Tennessee Health Freedom Act which protects the right of Tennesseans to participate or not in any health care system, and prohibits the government from imposing fines or penalties on those citizens’ decisions, and it also protects the right of individuals to purchase—and the right of doctors to provide—lawful medical services without government fine or penalty,

WHEREAS similar legislation has been filed in thirty states and the Tennessee Health Freedom Act has passed the state senate by a vote of 26-1, but remains bottled up in the State House,

WHEREAS we also question the constitutionality of the mandate in the Health Care Reform Act which would require individuals to purchase insurance, and we believe that the government lacks the authority to require an individual to purchase health care insurance or any other product,

WHEREAS at least 13 state attorneys general have filed suit against the federal government after President Barack Obama signed the bill,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

The Davidson County Republican Party urges the State House to pass the Tennessee Health Freedom Act without delay.

The Davidson County Republican Party calls for the State Attorney General to file suit to challenge the constitutionality of the Health Care Reform Act (HR 3590).

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