Oklahoma Voters To Decide Whether State Will ‘Opt Out’ of Federal Health Care

The sponsors of the legislation say it will let voters decide if they want to amend the state Constitution to prohibit Oklahomans from being forced to participate in the federal health care law. The sponsors say the amendment would exempt state residents from being penalized for failing to purchase health insurance.

Opponents say Oklahoma can't pick and choose which federal laws it obeys, so passing it would set the state up for an expensive legal battle it can't win. But supporters say they're on firm legal ground, because they believe the federal law is unconstitutional.

J.W. Berry founded a Tea Party chapter and helped lobby lawmakers write the opt-out measure that was passed Tuesday.

The amendment would also allow doctors to continue to accept direct payment. If voters approve it, the measure would avoid a possible veto by the Governor.

"So we basically got the people's houses, the Senate and House of Representatives to pass this and get it on the ballot so we can bypass Governor Henry," Berry said. "He can't veto this, this comes right to the people."

On the other hand, Mark Manley of Moveon.org says regardless of your opinion, a health care opt-out simply won't hold up in court.

Read more: http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=12549954

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Folks are just stupid, stupid, stupid.

all of us liberal women, men and children who've been sitting in the Senate Gallery, fighting for women's rights in Oklahoma really appreciate your sentiment. Because there are none of us here.

And those people who supported our Dem Governor and Dem AG (who said he wouldn't sue) on the health care issue-even though this health care plan really sucks-yeah, we thank you too.
Thanks a fucking lot.

to some states that seem to have issues with everything sometimes we forget (well me) that there are others there fighting for our causes.

Thanks!!!

trust me, it frustrates the living hell out of me to be here sometimes (I grew up in NJ and moved to CA when I was 22, then to OK for grad school).
But every place has it's shitty legislation, shitty human beings and serious problems. Oklahoma has more than it's fair share, though.

Liberal. I went to MA as a liberal and then to CA. He used to Tell stories about OK and went on to be a professor in Oklahoma. He said the same as you. "...every place has it's shitty legislation, shitty human beings and serious problems. Oklahoma has more than it's fair share, though." Good luck and thanks!!!

As we left, I spoke to the gentleman in charge. He lobbies at the Capitol, and he said this is the worst session he's ever seen, and he's been doing it for at least 10 years. In fact, he said he recently spoke to a retired, respected GOP state senator who told him that this year's Legislature was absolutely nuts.

I'm sure it will only get worse after the election. We're pretty much guaranteed a Repuke governor, and I'll lay you odds it'll be Mary Fallin.

Federal law trumps anything any state passes and the Feds have jurisdiction under the commerce clause.

so the whole effort could have been saved and the money spent flushed down a toilet for all the good it does them.

but these Amendment Ten Fans will lead to something really bad down the pike...

And they don't get it either.

This little bit of Tea Bagger foolishness will be expensive and futile. Maybe Oklahoma should "opt out" of federal farm subsidies and disaster relief, too? Those of us who never have tornados are tired of subsidizing the people who insist on living in Tornado Alley.

Unless they have a different US consitution than the one I'm looking at?

This is just something to stir up the hooples....

Something in the midwest water table must mess with the brain.

It is a patch of the southwest settled largely by thieves and swindlers; the last sizeable swatch of ground stolen from the Indians....