Ohio is one of 21 states that have introduced legislation to control its health care, which includes controlling federal dollars and changes that could affect health care in the state. <\/p>\n
Legislation would allow states to join a federally created health care compact that would transfer the authority and responsibility to make health care decisions from federal control to the member states. So far, only North Dakota has failed to pass legislation through its statehouse to join, and three states Arizona, Minnesota and Montana have had their governors veto legislation. There are eight states with legislation approved by their governors, and Ohio is one of eight states with legislation still pending. <\/p>\n
Republican Reps. Terry Boose, of Norwalk, and Wes Retherford, of Hamilton, introduced House Bill 227 this past June, which would allow Ohio to be a member of the health care compact. The bill passed out of the State and Local Government Committee on April 2 by way of a 10-8 vote. The vote was down party lines, though Republican Bob Hackett, of London, voted with the Democrats. Committee member Rep. Matt Lundy, D-Elyria, said this bill is not right for Ohio. <\/p>\n
The proposal is so extreme and has such a negative impact on the health of our citizens that even Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed (a similar bill), said Lundy. Arizonas state legislature passed its version of the health care compact bill in 2011, but it was vetoed by the controversial governor who became criticized in the national media for signing Arizona Senate Bill 1070, known as the show me your papers law. The U.S. Supreme Court in June 2012 struck down key provisions of SB 1070 but upheld a provision that allows police to check a persons immigration status in certain circumstances. <\/p>\n
The governors in Montana and Minnesota exercised pocket vetoes by never signing the bills that passed each of their respective states legislatures. <\/p>\n
Meredith Tucker, Ohio Democratic Party communications director, called the bill a partisan stunt. <\/p>\n
Its sad that Ohio Republicans continue these partisan stunts when there are so many important issues facing struggling Ohio families, she said. <\/p>\n
U.S. Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, introduced House Joint Resolution 110 in February and has garnered support from 11 Republican congressmen, including Urbana Rep. Jim Jordan, who have signed on as co-sponsors. The Oklahoma Republican said this resolution is a breakthrough governance reform that allows states to clean up the health care mess created by the federal government. <\/p>\n
Those member states are then free to implement their own health care systems without interference from federal bureaucrats, using federal health care funds already collected and spent in their state, Lankford said. <\/p>\n
Because of their displeasure with the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare, Retherford said he and several Ohio legislators felt it necessary to work to join the health care compact efforts. And besides that, he said health care is an issue that should be taken care at the state level. <\/p>\n
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Ohio considers legislation to control its health care<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ohio is one of 21 states that have introduced legislation to control its health care, which includes controlling federal dollars and changes that could affect health care in the state. Legislation would allow states to join a federally created health care compact that would transfer the authority and responsibility to make health care decisions from federal control to the member states Continue reading