ATLANTA (Sept. 3, 2009) – Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) with members of the Republican Caucus announced the introduction of a Constitutional Amendment to protect health care freedom in Georgia. They gathered at the State Capitol today telling the federal government that it cannot force Georgians to purchase health care and cannot force a public option.
“Today we’re telling Democrats in Washington D.C. that proposals to deny or limit access to the purchase of private health care are simply unacceptable. We’re fighting for Georgians’ right to choose their health care, not have it shoved down their throat by the federal government,” said Rogers. “Our basic freedoms are at risk with the government run health care proposals coming out of Washington. Socialized health care cannot possibly solve any problem. History proves such federal involvement will only worsen the challenges we face in health care.”
Democrats in Washington have proposed a “play or pay” bill in which small businesses would be penalized up to 8 percent of their payroll for not offering health insurance to all their employees. The United States Chamber of Commerce estimates this will kill millions of American jobs. The Obama Administration is also pushing for a public plan option which the Heritage Foundation calculates will force more than 100 million Americans to lose their current private coverage.
The Health Care States Rights Protection Constitutional Amendment announced by the Georgia Senate Republican Caucus would protect Georgia’s citizens from this sort of legislation. Specifically, the Amendment protects Georgia citizen’s right to choose whether they want to participate in any insurance plan. Additionally, the Amendment prohibits governments from punishing citizens for non-participation. If passed in the legislature and approved by voters in November 2010, Georgia will be successful in invoking the Tenth Amendment and protecting its citizens from mandatory government health care.
Sen. Chip Rogers serves as Senate Majority Leader. He represents the 21st Senate District which includes portions of Cherokee and Cobb counties. He can be reached at his office at 404.463.1378 or by email at chip.rogers@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
September 3, 2009
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
raegan.weber@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028