ATLANTA - State Representative Jason Spencer (R-Woodbine)
and bill co-sponsors Rep. David Stover (R-Newnan), Rep. Scot Turner (R-Holly Springs),
Rep. Kevin Cooke (R-Carrollton), and Rep. Michael Caldwell(R-Woodstock)
released statements today regarding two bills that these legislators will
introduce in the 2014 legislative session. These statements come on the heels
of a press conference that was held at the State Capitol on Monday after these
bills were presented to the public.
"As a board
certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) with thirteen years of clinical
experience, I can tell you that working in healthcare has been problematic with
regards to affordability and access for some prior to the enactment of
Obamacare," said Rep. Spencer. "However, Obamacare addresses neither
access nor affordability and only exacerbates pre-existing issues prior to the
law's passage, as well as creating new problems for Georgians.
This federal law was passed under false pretenses and as a
result has caused serious economic harm to the state of Georgia. Because
Obamacare was ill-conceived from the start, the majority of the public is now
seeing how incompetent the federal government has become. The state of Georgia
has been on record through legislative acts and through executive decisions not
to move forward in implementing Obamacare.
However, we have some of our tax payer supported institutions implementing
this law against the wishes of the people and their elected
representatives. Our initiative
prohibits the state of Georgia from participating in the destruction of our own
economy through economic cannibalism, and requests the Attorney General or a special
counsel to work with other states to overturn the Obamacare Supreme Court decision."
"The federal takeover of healthcare in the United
States is the largest single infringement upon the 10th amendment and
individual freedom in recent history," said Rep. Michael Caldwell.
"As elected officials we are bound by oath to uphold the Constitutions of
Georgia and the United States, and the refusal to permit state resources to be
utilized in the implementation of Obamacare is a necessary step to maintain our
oaths."
"It has been clearly established in case law that the
Federal Government cannot compel states to enforce federal law," said Rep.
Scot Turner. "We are empowered by legal precedent to protect the citizens
of Georgia from the greatest over reach of government authority and
encroachment on individual liberty in our history.
With the ruling by the Supreme Court that Obamacare is a
tax, we are left to ask the question, what exactly is being taxed? There is no
production, no consumption, no transaction; Obamacare taxes us for simply being
alive. The people of Georgia have let it be known that they want leaders to
stand and defend them from this unjust violation of their right to live a free
life. Today we send a clear message to
Washington; Georgia will not participate in the willful violation of individual
liberty that is Obamacare. Georgia will stand in defense of Liberty."
"Our federal government has, for many years, errantly
acted outside of its Constitutional bounds and authority," said Rep. Kevin
Cooke. "It is the State of Georgia's job to protect the citizens of the
state from such actions and guard against unjust and immoral acts perpetrated
on them by the federal government."
"The Affordable Care Act has proven itself to be anything
but affordable," said Rep. Stover. "To date, approximately 400,000
citizens of the State of Georgia have lost their healthcare due to ACA.
Georgia's families cannot afford the mandates, nor can they afford to lose
their coverage. As
Representatives of the citizens of Georgia, it is our duty
to protect Georgian's from an overreaching government, whether State or
Federal. With this bill, we can protect Georgian's healthcare choices and allow
them to keep their healthcare plan if they like their plan. Georgia's
noncompliance with the ACA means that we can move towards meaningful healthcare
reform without the bureaucracy of the Federal Government."
House Bill 707 <http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/enUS/display/20132014/HB/707> would prohibit state employees, state
agencies, public colleges and universities from enforcing and implementing the
federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This bill would also give the Attorney
General of the State of Georgia the authority to act against an entity
violating the bill's prohibition on the state to implement the ACA.
A pending House Resolution to be filed on the first day of
the 2014 legislative session would urge the Attorney General of Georgia to
initiate or join a lawsuit to overturn the decision of the United States
Supreme Court to uphold the constitutionality of the individual mandate of the Patient
Protection and Affordable Health Care Act of 2010.
The group, Georgians for Healthcare Freedom, helped lead the
petition to call for nullification of Obamacare in Georgia. Carolyn Cosby,
Chairman of Georgians for Healthcare Freedom, stated, "We want to thank
our Representatives for hearing the call of the people to protect us against this
federal mandate that is hurting our families in Georgia. The sheer volume of over 34,000 signers
demands legislative action. This proposed simple legislation combined with the
Georgia Resolution is a call to our U.S. Congress and our courts to overturn
Obamacare in our nation. This is what
the people want."
Representative Jason Spencer represents the citizens of
District 180, which includes Camden, Charlton, and Ware counties. He was
elected into the House of Representatives in 2010, is currently serving on the
Game Fish & Parks, Human Relations & Aging, Juvenile Justice, and
Special Rules committees.
State Representative Jason Spencer presented HB 707 the Georgia Healthcare Freedom and ACA Non-Compliance Act
before the public. Co-sponsors Rep. David Stover, Rep. Scot Turner, Rep.
Michael Caldwell and Rep. Paulette Braddock
Limiting the ACA implementation in Georgia
A new bill, designed to prevent any state agency, assisting
in implementing "any" provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA),
will be introduced in the 2014 Legislative session. The bill was pre-filed
Monday morning.
Representative Jason Spencer, district 180, Woodbine,
spokesperson, for the quartet of co-sponsors, said since the Governor and the
Speaker have decided not to support ACA, or to expand Medicaid, an essential
element of ACA, then no state agency, that receives tax dollars, should be
allowed to participate.
The bill would essentially make it illegal, for UGA to assist
Navigators, who are trained to help people sign up for the Program. Representative
Spencer tells GNN the bill's passage, is the only way to stop UGA and other
agencies participation.
Source: Rep Jason Spencer,
December 17, 2013.
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