Health care mandate needs challenged

Published 9:02 am Thursday, January 13, 2011

Earlier this week, a request to support legislation concerning health insurance made its way across my desk, and I was eager to do so.

As state legislators, we are often tasked with deciphering legislation handed down to us from the federal level in order to determine whether or not it is good for the people of Ohio.

I’m sure that you, as well as the rest of those in the 87th House District, have heard about the very controversial “Obamacare.”

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The health care law that President Obama and the previous U.S. Congress enacted is an infringement on our rights as individuals to purchase our own health insurance.

It mandates that we must do so, and while anyone over 133 percent of the poverty level will be required to purchase it, I find it very unlikely that they will — in actuality — be able to do so.

This is a big reason why I plan to support legislation requiring Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine to challenge the federal mandate.

I become very frustrated when I hear those who claim that the federal health care law saves money. It doesn’t.

Obamacare is not financially sustainable for a state budget like that of Ohio’s.

It shifts the burden of not being able to pay for it onto the taxpayers of our state — people who simply cannot afford the additional costs when faced with all of the other financial struggles day in and day out.

Hundreds of millions of dollars added to the costs of our state budget means fewer dollars for things like public safety, education and other responsibilities we must handle at the state level.

It comes down to an issue of states’ rights. In Ohio, we have a responsibility and duty to monitor the insurance within our borders — not those in Washington who seem to believe that Ohio’s situation is the same as can be found in New York, Florida, California or any other state.

In our state, we have already established a high-risk pool and worked to find ways of ensuring that those who would not normally be able to access health insurance can.

We have also worked with free clinics around the state.

As someone who interacts regularly with the constituents of my district — as well as those from around the state — I’m very familiar with the problem we face of having too many of our fellow citizens uninsured.

Passing a law that forces us to buy insurance, though, is not the answer.

Rather, the focus should be on empowering individuals to make the everyday choices that affect them — not mandates from Washington.

As your state representative, I will continue to ensure that your voice is heard in this matter.

John Carey serves in Ohio’s 87th District of the House of Representatives, which includes eastern Lawrence County. He may be reached at (614) 466-1366 or by writing to: Ohio House of Representatives, 77 S. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215. He can also be reached via e-mail his office at District87@ohr.state.oh.us.