Staff Writer
Duval Delegation members among those in opposition to new federal law
Health-care reform passed at the federal level and was signed into law Tuesday by President Barack Obama, but many Florida lawmakers, including several from the Duval Delegation, are going through the legislative steps to prevent the reform from affecting the state.
One direct measure against the health-care reform, HJR 37 - Health Care Services, would prohibit laws or rules from compelling any person, employer or health-care provider to participate in any health-care system.
Filed in July when health-care reform talk heated up, it’s sponsored and co-signed by more than 50 House Republicans, including State Reps. Janet Adkins, Jennifer Carroll, Charles McBurney, Ronald Renuart and Michael Weinstein.
On Monday, the measure passed the Health Care Regulation Policy Committee 10-3.
“This health-care bill that is passing (at the federal level), it’s placing a mandate on people in the state of Florida to buy a product,” said Renuart, who serves on the committee. “It’s unprecedented by the federal government. We’re stepping up to defend the people of Florida.”
Renuart said the ideological differences on the issue were apparent in the meeting, with lawmakers voicing the opinions of their constituents.
Renuart has co-signed another measure, HJR 679 - Sovereignty of the State. Carroll is the House’s sponsor of the sovereignty bill, while State Sen. Steve Wise has sponsored the Senate version, SJR 1240. Both the health-care services and the sovereignty measures propose an amendment to the state Constitution to assert the sovereignty of the state and refuse to comply with unconstitutional federal mandates.
“I think it’s important not just to sit by while the State is strong-armed by the federal government,” said Carroll. “It’s about engaging the will of the people.”
Carroll criticized the federal bill as hastily done and against the majority of the will of people while also having a potential $1 billion impact on the state.
“Health care is not a ‘one-size fits all’,” she said.
Wise agreed with Carroll and Renuart’s idea of protecting the U.S. Constitution and Floridians on the issue and said he hoped leadership would move both measures through their respective houses.
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum filed suit in federal court against the federal measure minutes after Obama signed the legislation into law Tuesday, calling it an impairment of freedoms on Americans. Twelve other attorneys general joined the lawsuit, from South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Louisiana, Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Washington, Idaho and South Dakota.
At the state level, the joint resolutions were introduced before the federal movement , but lawmakers need to react quickly, said Carroll.
“I believe time is of the essence,” she said. “Where we go from here is up to us as a state. Lawmakers, both Republican and Democrat, need to address the issue and citizens need to step up and have their voices heard.”
Like Wise, Carroll hopes to see the issue resolved within several weeks. After passing favorably in its first committee Monday, HJR 37 must be seen by the Criminal and Civil Justice Policy Council; Health and Family Services Policy Council; and Rules and Calendar Council. The sovereignty bill, HJR 679, must have action from the Criminal and Civil Justice Policy Council; Policy Council; and Rules and Calendar Council.
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