By Sen. Jim Butterworth
Early this week, when Washington leadership forced their version of health care reform through to the president’s signature, the speaker of the House invoked very powerful words. Nancy Pelosi quoted the Declaration of Independence saying we have honored “the vows of our founders, who in the Declaration of Independence said that we are ‘endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’”
I offer to Speaker Pelosi that she should have kept reading. If she had, she would have read that “to secure these rights, governments are to be instituted among men.” The United States Constitution actually gives states the right to further protect citizens from federal encroachment. It is not up to the federal government to create such mandates as requiring every citizen to purchase health care. We must continue to fight for what we know is right.
Thirty-eight states across the country are coming together and taking drastic steps to adopt legislation that will protect states’ rights and block the unconstitutional mandates that are being forced upon us and our children. I am happy to report that Georgia is one of these states. Your state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 317 out of the Senate last week, which says that no law can mandate you to participate in any health care program. State leadership is also pursuing available avenues for legal action against the legislation.
The architects of the Declaration of Independece wrote that our state and national leaders derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Understandably, we expect our leaders in Washington to take a stand for their constituents because they are elected to serve at the will of the people. In order to serve at the will of the people, they must be open to listening to the people. We were misled to think that leadership in Washington, including the president, reached across the aisle for bi-partisan support. I contest that the only bipartisan aspect of this bill was the opposition. Several Democrats walked across the aisle to vote against the health care bill because they understood their role as an elected public servant.
This is not the first time in recent history that we have seen Washington turn its back on the American people. After seizing control of the automobile industry, Washington has now stolen control of our health care industry with bribery and arm-twisting. Soon, they will be attempting to highjack environmental trade practices.
While it is important to get our message out, it is even more important to act. We are afforded the right and priviledge to vote. It is our ultimate voice as citizens when our leaders push our ideals aside. Talk with your neighbors and get involved. Write the president, call the White House and most importantly – vote. Make your voice heard.
As always, I am proud to serve my constituents of the 50th district of Georgia. As legislators, we pray each day that we will have the strength and the wisdom to build a state that is healthy and economically prosperous. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to face tough decisions, confident that our sacrifices today will mean a better Georgia for tomorrow.
Sen. Jim Butterworth represents the 50th Senate District which includes Towns, Rabun, Habersham, Stephens, Banks, Franklin, and Hart counties along with a portion of White County. He can be reached by phone at 404.463.5257 or by email at jim.butterworth@senate.ga.gov.
COLUMN
For Immediate Release:
March 26, 2010
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
Katie Wright, Communications Associate
katie.wright@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028