MD Democrat Senators Clear Way for ObamaCare
The waning days of the session pose a dilemma for legislators whose bills are being held in committee. With only five working days left in the 2010 Maryland General Assembly session, some legislators must resort to creative floor techniques for having their legislation considered.
Take, for example, Senate Bill 397 – Health Care Freedom Act of 2010. Introduced by Republican Senators EJ Pipkin, Nancy Jacobs and Alex Mooney, the bill would prohibit the implementation of the mandatory purchase of health insurance provisions in President Barack Obama’s federal health care bill. Over 30 states have considered state legislation to make or keep health insurance optional and allow people the freedom to purchase any type of coverage they choose. (for more information, see our prior post)
Senate Bill 397 was heard in the Senate Finance Committee on February 17th. At the complete discretion of the chair, Senator Thomas “Mac” Middleton, the committee had taken no further action on the bill. Yesterday, Pipkin arose on the Senate floor yesterday to offer the same state’s rights concept found in the Health Care Freedom Act rewritten as an amendment to a related health care bill (House Bill 1564) that was being considered on third reader.
“What this amendment does is shields the citizens of Maryland from a federal requirement to purchase health care insurance under the guise of either being fined or penalized,” stated Pipkin. He concluded, “It frees us from the tyranny of the federal government.”
The Democrat majority in the State Senate rejected the Pipkin amendment by a vote of 20 for and 27 against - clearing the way for the implementation of ObamaCare in Maryland.
For insights on the health care deliberations in Annapolis, listen to the floor debate on the Pipkin amendment which is available online at click here. Under “Prior Senate Proceedings,” select the proceedings labeled “Tuesday, April 06, 2010, Session #1” and proceed to 1:05:45 on the recording.