Georgia lawmakers propose WTF health care legislation
September 3, 2009 at 4:31 pm by Thomas Wheatley in NewsThis has been a long day, as you can tell. Now we’re greeted to this news from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta, and Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, want to amend the state Constitution to “protect Georgia’s citizens from being forced into government-run health care.”
Here’s what Hill said in a press release:
“Our country was founded on individual freedom and liberty. Today we’re proposing a Constitutional Amendment that ensures every Georgian the freedom to accept or reject any health care or health insurance plan. The Amendment would also prohibit any government from punishing an individual or business that does not participate in such health plans. Passage of this Amendment is the best way to protect Georgians from the Democrat led Congress’ attempt to socialize healthcare through their ‘public option’ health care mandate.”
But when pressed by reporters about their plan at a press conference this afternoon, Hill and Rogers made clear they hadn’t really thought through the proposal.
From the AJC:
Asked if Medicare, which is government-run health care for seniors, would also then be unconstitutional, Hill said, “That’s a good question. I don’t know yet. We’ll fight that battle when it comes before us.”
…
…when pressed about details of the Democrats’ plans, Rogers and Hill were less certain. According to Obama himself, the government option for health care would be that – an option. Consumers could keep their private insurance if they wish.
But Rogers isn’t convinced. He said to ask “our friends in Canada” if they like government-run health care.
If state leadership isn’t protecting Georgians from microchip implants, it’s protecting them from “options.” The AJC article is worth checking out for the comments alone.
Icarus at Peach Pundit is making some sense here:
Holy off-message unintended consequences Bat-Man!
You mean a harmless publicity stunt to pander to the base demanding someone address the contitutionality of a hated over-reach by a Democratic Congress could backfire into a question of constitutionality of a federal program that is so off limits that even RNC Chairman Michael Steele has proposed enshrining it in its own “Bill of Rights”?!?
Somebody didn’t think this one through.
(UPDATE) Odette Yousef of WABE was also at the Capitol and spoke with Hill. She asked the senator where in the bill is the section that says people basically won’t be able to purchase private health care anymore. He couldn’t tell her. (Full disclosure: Yousef is a friend of mine.)
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:22 pm
For health care reform? Against health care reform? Either way, can’t we at least reach a consensus that grandstanding poser douchebags should give it a rest?
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:28 pm
It would be simplest if Hill and Rogers propose that Georgia again secede from the U.S. That’ll show those rascals up North.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:33 pm
She asked the senator where in the bill is the section that says people basically won’t be able to purchase private health care anymore. He couldn’t tell her. (Full disclosure: Yousef is a friend of mine.)
Founded or unfounded, the theory is that the private option will slowly but surely be crowded out for all but the wealthy by the public option – kinda like a government-sponsored Wal-Mart for health care scorching the fruited plain. Regardless, kudos to Yousef for catching Hill flat-footed.
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Anyone who needs to know that state senator Judson Hill is not only an idiot but a hypocrite need to look no further than Senate Bill 28 (GA General Assembly) from 2007. A lot of what he wanted to do was in that bill…such as compulsory health insurance…
September 4th, 2009 at 1:04 am
It’s pretty sad when I have to use a bat-man reference to make it appear that I am making sense.
September 4th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
This will go nowhere. Just like the MARTA liberation-from-the-50/50-funding-split, Sunday likker sales, and transportation bills.
In fact, I expect state legislators to do nothing but chase skirts and/or seek furtive M4M connections on Craigslist. With a little bit of Decision 2010 grandstanding added into the mix.
Surely evil libruhl media type Odette Yousef hates America for even questioning our brave and glorious state legislators.