Senate leaders introduce health care freedom act

Senator Don Gaetz today joined Senate President Mike Haridopolos in sponsoring a constitutional amendment to affirm Floridians’ rights to refuse to participate in the federal health reform plan pushed by President Obama.
 
Senate Joint Resolution 2, known as the “Florida Health Care Freedom Act,” would protect individual Floridians from penalties, punishments and fines that might be imposed against individuals who do not sign up for what is commonly called “Obamacare.”
 
The federal health reform act, passed earlier this year by Congress, provides for penalties for non-participation.  Haridopolos and Gaetz believe that Florida’s constitution should allow individuals to choose their health care.
 
President Haridopolos is married to Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, a Brevard County physician, and has served on the Senate’s health appropriations committee.  Senator Gaetz has thirty years experience in developing and providing health care services, primarily to persons with life-limiting illnesses.  He serves on the health appropriations and health regulation committees of the Senate.
 
“We hope that changes in the composition of Congress will result in either repeal or substantial modification of ‘Obamacare,’” Gaetz (R-Niceville) said.  “But if that doesn’t happen, individual Floridians should not be punished if they choose not to be involuntarily signed up for a plan chosen for them by the federal government.”
 
It is highly unusual for a presiding officer to sponsor legislation.  Gaetz praised Haridopolos for breaking precedent and for personally leading the fight to pass the constitutional amendment.
 
Representative Scott Plakon (R-Orlando) is the House sponsor of the proposal, joined by Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fort Walton Beach).
 
If the Senate and House pass SJR 2 by a two thirds majority, the proposal will be placed on the ballot for all Floridians to vote on.  Senator Gaetz said he expects the issue to draw wide support among members of both houses of the Legislature.