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| Health Care Freedom Amendment Latest News: August 5 ST. LOUIS • Missouri voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a federal mandate to purchase health insurance, rebuking President Barack Obama's administration and giving Republicans their first political victory in a national campaign to overturn the controversial health care law passed by Congress in March. "The citizens of the Show-Me State don't want Washington involved in their health care decisions," said Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, one of the sponsors of the legislation that put Proposition C on the August ballot. She credited a grass-roots campaign involving Tea Party and patriot groups with building support for the anti-Washington proposition. With most of the vote counted, Proposition C was winning by a ratio of nearly 3 to 1. The measure, which seeks to exempt Missouri from the insurance mandate in the new health care law, includes a provision that would change how insurance companies that go out of business in Missouri liquidate their assets. "I've never seen anything like it," Cunningham said at a campaign gathering at a private home in Town and Country. "Citizens wanted their voices to be heard." About 30 Proposition C supporters whooped it up loudly at 9 p.m. when the returns flashed on the television showing the measure passing with more than 70 percent of the vote. "It's the vote heard 'round the world," said Dwight Janson, 53, from Glendale, clad in an American flag-patterned shirt. Janson said he went to one of the first Tea Party gatherings last year and hopped on the Proposition C bandwagon because he wanted to make a difference. "I was tired of sitting on the sidelines bouncing my gums," he said. Missouri was the first of four states to seek to opt out of the insurance purchase mandate portion of the health care law that had been pushed by Obama. And while many legal scholars question whether the vote will be binding, the overwhelming approval gives the national GOP momentum as Arizona, Florida and Oklahoma hold similar votes during midterm elections in November. "It's a big number," state Sen. Jim Lembke, R-Lemay, said of the vote. "I expected a victory, but not of this magnitude. This is going to propel the issue and several other issues about the proper role of the federal government." From almost the moment the Democratic-controlled Congress passed the health care law — which aims to increase the number of Americans with health insurance — Republicans have vowed to try to repeal it. Their primary argument is that they believe the federal government should not be involved in mandating health care decisions at the local level. While repeal might seem an unlikely strategy, the effort to send a message state by state that voters don't approve of being told they have to buy insurance could gain momentum. That's what Republicans are counting on at least, hoping that the Missouri vote will give the national movement momentum. "It's like a domino, and Missouri is the first one to fall," Cunningham said. "Missouri's vote will greatly influence the debate in the other states." Proposition C faced little organized opposition, although the Missouri Hospital Association mounted a mailer campaign opposing the ballot issue in the last couple of weeks. The hospital association, which spent more than $300,000 in the losing effort, said that without the new federal law, those who don't have insurance will cause health care providers and other taxpayers to have higher costs. "The only way to get to the cost problem in health care is to expand the insurance pool," said hospital association spokesman Dave Dillon. He said the hospital association didn't plan to sue over the law, but he expected it would be challenged. "I think there is going to be no shortage of people who want to use the courts to resolve this issue," he said. Democrats also generally opposed Proposition C, though they didn't spend much time or money talking about it. In the closing days of the campaign, many politicians 'sidled up" to Proposition C, Cunningham said, seeing the momentum the issue had gained. Among them was U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, who won the Republican primary for U.S. Senate on Tuesday night. Late last week, Blunt announced his support of Proposition C. On Monday, Blunt said he hoped Missouri voters would send a "ballot box message" to the Obama's administration by overwhelmingly passing the measure. The question now is whether the administration will respond by suing the state to block passage of the law, much as it did in Arizona recently over illegal immigration. The issue in both is the same: When state laws conflict with federal laws, the courts have generally ruled in favor of the federal government, because of the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Richard Reuben, a law professor at the University of Missouri School of Law, said that if the federal government sues on the issue, it would likely win. Several other Missouri legal and political scholars agreed. But Cunningham is undaunted. She's got her own experts, and they're ready to do battle in court. "Constitutional experts disagree," she said. "There is substantial legal status to this thing." Aug 2 WASHINGTON — Virginia's lawsuit challenging the Obama administration's health care reform law cleared its first legal hurdle Monday as a federal judge ruled the law raises a host of complex constitutional issues.
U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson's decision stemmed from Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's claims that Congress exceeded its authority under the Constitution's Commerce Clause by requiring citizens to buy health insurance or pay a penalty.
Hudson's ruling denied the Justice Department's attempt to have the lawsuit dismissed, saying further hearings must take place before he can weigh the merits of the case. An Oct. 18 hearing had previously been set in the case.
"Unquestionably, this regulation radically changes the landscape of health insurance coverage in America," Hudson wrote in his 32-page decision.
The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation this year exempting state residents from the federal coverage mandate. Hudson wrote that the attorney general had a right to defend that state law.
Cuccinelli announced in March that he would challenge the national law. More than a dozen other state attorneys general have filed a separate lawsuit in Florida challenging the federal law, but Virginia's lawsuit is the first to go before a judge.
Hudson said Virginia's case raises several complex constitutional issues — mainly whether Congress has the right to regulate and tax a person's decision not to participate in interstate commerce.
July 27 The Ohio Project is continuing to accumulate signatures at regular collection points, at special events such as county fairs, and increasingly by direct precinct canvassing. The door to door approach results in consistent, high productivity accumulation of signatures that are 95% valid. The approach always presents a great opportunity to register unregistered voters and help absentee voters to obtain their absentee voting material. This builds loyalty that results in votes. Most importantly of all, collecting signatures using the precinct canvassing method performs that vital "first step" of identifying ourselves to prospective voters, and getting them to vote right in November!
July 13 Medina County has collected more signatures than any other county except Franklin (Columbus) and Hamilton (Cincinnati). We are the largest county in Ohio to reach the 10% milestone (signatures equal to 10% of total votes in last gubernatorial election). In order to place this Amendment on the ballot, we must collect valid signatures equal to 5% of the vote (first milestone) in 44 different counties (we are within a couple hundred signatures in a handful of counties of reaching this) and a total count of signatures equal to 10% of the vote (second milestone) in the last gubernatorial election. Good job Medina! July 1 Over 150,000 signatures are "in-hand" in Columbus. Wayne County has passed the "5%" threshold, while Erie and Harrison County passed the 10% threshold. Medina is the near to becoming the largest Ohio county to surpass the 10% threshold. June 27 125,000 signatures are "in-hand" in Columbus. Approximately 8,000 more are "in the pipeline" in the hand of the North East Regional Coordinator. It is unknown how many more are in the pipeline in the North East or other regions. Momentum, signing locations and volunteers continue to build. The deadline for signatures has been extended to August 30, which would put the Amendment on the November ballot for 2011 rather than 2010. June 14 Counties that have met the 10% goal (signatures equivalent to 10% of the vote in the last gubernatorial election): Auglaize Fayette Meigs Mercer Counties that have met the 5% goal (must get 44 of these): Allen Clinton Fairfield Hancock Knox Logan Medina Noble Paulding Van Wert June 9 Additions to 5% goal Allen (NW) Noble (SE) Paulding (NW) Additions to 10% goal Mercer (NW) Auglaize (NW) June 5
Fayette County (at 947 signatures) has not only exceeded their 5% goal (of 420 signatures), but they have also exceeded the 10% number (of 840 signatures)! They are only about 300 signatures away from meeting their Ohio 2000 Goal (of 1,260)!
HOLY SMOKES! What is going on in Fayette County??!! Go Fayette County!!! Approaching to 5% goal Allen -- less than 200 sigs from 5% (another 200 sigs & the 5% requirement for 44 counties will be met) Fairfield -- about 200 from 5% Holmes -- less than 100 from 5% Knox -- about 50 from 5% Logan -- about 50 from 5% Paulding -- about 150 from 5%
Approaching 10% goal Auglaize -- about 200 from 10% Mercer -- about 400 from 10% Hancock -- about 1000 from 10% June 1 The signing booth at the Port Clinton Walleye Festival was the scene of literally hundreds of people lined up to sign the Healthcare freedom Choice Act Petition. Although we had to close down the booth a little early Monday afternoon because of some strong thunderstorms that marched through the area, the results were still fantastic! The total amount of signatures turned in to me as of tonight stands at 821 ! Signatures were collected from people visiting the Port Clinton festival who had traveled from 40 different counties throughout Ohio. Auglaize (Bob Thompson),
Hancock (Cheryl Blakely), Mercer (Stephanie Kremer) counties have hit their Minimum Signature goal of 5%. Three down, 41 to go!
Congratulations to Medina County - 2nd only to Franklin County (Columbus) for the number of signatures collected! 1. Regional Coordinators have been appointed in all 5 Ohio Project regions 2. North East Ohio Regional Coordinator Ron Tanski has appointed County Coordinators for all 25 of his assigned counties 3. County Coordinators are organizing all those who have volunteered to be petition collectors in their county 4. Many volunteers have downloaded the petition and instructions and are independently collecting signatures 5. Statewide Coordinator Warren Edstrom wants all completed and partially completed petitions fedex'd or UPS'd to Columbus headquarters at the end of May for an interim count, quality check, and to reduce the logistical "logjam" at the end of June 6. Many sites for signature collection can use more volunteer coverage 8. Many volunteers have discovered that an easy and very "steady" way of collecting 50-100 signatures in a couple of hours is to obtain a "walking list" for their precinct and knock on doors at homes where there are two or more Republican or independent voters. Reject rate for invalid signatures is virtually zero. Acceptance rate is very high, no sales pitch required. 9. The Ohio Project has launched the Ohio 2000 initiative to identify 2000 volunteers who will collect 300 signatures apiece in the next 3 weeks. Gentlemen, Start Your Engines! Ohio Supreme Court Orders Brunner to Certify Now go out and collect a few hundred thousand signatures! (Hmm. Isn't that the candidate running for Attorney General?)
Supreme Court Decision Imminent on overturning Ballot Board Decision - 4/27 Regional Coordinators appointed by Ohio Liberty Council Regional Coordinators are building their team of County Coordinators and volunteers Over 20,000 have signed on to TheOhioProject.Com
Jennifer Brunner requests 10 day delay before responding to HealthCare Freedom Amendment Case Request denied by Ohio Supreme Court!
Jennifer (ACORN) Brunner rejects HealthCare Freedom Amendment Voting by the Ballot Board was on a straight party line basis. It appears that with Democrats in the majority, there is one party rule and no alternative to their rule. The only thing left is for them to cancel elections, or to allow illegal aliens to vote. This ruling will be challenged with the Ohio Supreme Court on Monday.
What's Next? Now that the AG has verified the minimum 1,000 signatures and certified the language of the Health Care Freedom Amendment (HCFA), the HCFA is scheduled for a review by the Ballot Board to approve its placement on the general election ballot contingent upon receiving the necessary number of signatures (see below). The ballot board is composed of two republicans and two democrats, one each from the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate. Expect about 10 days for this to transpire. Expect it to be conducted in a hearing room in the State Capital building (attendance is encouraged). The question they will address, is whether or not the HCFA contains a "single subject" for voter approval. Stay tuned for further updates. See below for more information about the Ballot Board.
Initial Press Release Ohio Liberty Council and Tea Party Groups Challenge Obamacare with Constitutional Amendment Columbus, OH, March 22, 2010. The Ohio Liberty Council, a statewide coalition of 25 grassroots groups, today announced a proposed state constitutional amendment that will “preserve the freedom of Ohioans to choose their healthcare and healthcare coverage.” The amendment, drafted by the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law, seeks to protect Ohioans from the financial burdens and individual mandates contained in the new federal healthcare law. The group filed constitutional amendment summary language and 3000 signatures from registered voters in 42 counties with the Ohio Secretary of State and Attorney General. Twenty-six state legislatures have proposed constitutional amendments to block the individual mandates contained in the new federal law, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Today’s filing by the Ohio Liberty Council is the nation’s first citizen-initiated action. “The Ohio Liberty Council seeks to preserve the freedom of Ohioans to choose their healthcare and healthcare coverage,” said Ohio Liberty Council President Chris Littleton. “With the passage of untenable national mandates on health insurance, the federal government is trampling on the direct constitutional authority and responsibility of state legislatures. This constitutional amendment will do what our leaders in the Statehouse have failed to do – protect Ohioans from federal mandates on personal behavior.” “Obamacare significantly erodes individual liberties because of its severe penalties for non-compliance,” said 1851 Center Executive Director Maurice Thompson. “The federal government – through the IRS –now has the power to levy tens of thousands of dollars in fines on individuals who do not purchase health insurance from government-sanctioned private providers. The Ohio Liberty Council’s constitutional amendment will protect Ohioans from this draconian overreach.” The amendment provides that: · In Ohio, no law or rule shall compel, directly or indirectly, any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in a health care system; · In Ohio, no law or rule shall prohibit the purchase or sale of health care or health insurance; and · In Ohio, no law or rule shall impose a penalty or fine for the sale or purchase of health care or health insurance. The amendment does not: · Affect laws or rules in effect as of March 19, 2010; · Affect which services a health care provider or hospital is required to perform or provide; · Affect terms and conditions of government employment; and · Affect any laws calculated to deter fraud or punish wrongdoing in the health care industry.
Please enter your contact information on the Contact Us page if you are interesting in signing the petitions, or collecting signatures on the petitions, when we receive permission to begin the petition drive. Thank you. | |
| | | | | Action Items Secretary of State convenes Ballot Board, which approves/disapproves for placement on the ballot. If approved, signature collection may begin. Collect contact info for people wanting to sign Continuing - currently over 13,000 3/29 currently over 17,000 4/1 Collect contact info for people volunteering to collect signatures Continue to refine petition drive organization and processes Assign volunteers to org hierarchy Develop "budget" | |
| 3505.062 Ohio ballot board duties.The Ohio ballot board shall do all of the following: (A) Examine, within ten days after its receipt, each written initiative petition received from the attorney general under section 3519.01 of the Revised Code to determine whether it contains only one proposed law or constitutional amendment so as to enable the voters to vote on a proposal separately. If the board so determines, it shall certify its approval to the attorney general, who then shall file with the secretary of state in accordance with division (A) of section 3519.01 of the Revised Code a verified copy of the proposed law or constitutional amendment together with its summary and the attorney general’s certification of it. If the board determines that the initiative petition contains more than one proposed law or constitutional amendment, the board shall divide the initiative petition into individual petitions containing only one proposed law or constitutional amendment so as to enable the voters to vote on each proposal separately and certify its approval to the attorney general. If the board so divides an initiative petition and so certifies its approval to the attorney general, the petitioners shall resubmit to the attorney general appropriate summaries for each of the individual petitions arising from the board’s division of the initiative petition, and the attorney general then shall review the resubmissions as provided in division (A) of section 3519.01 of the Revised Code. (B) Prescribe the ballot language for constitutional amendments proposed by the general assembly to be printed on the questions and issues ballot, which language shall properly identify the substance of the proposal to be voted upon; (C) Prepare an explanation of each constitutional amendment proposed by the general assembly, which explanation may include the purpose and effects of the proposed amendment; (D) Certify the ballot language and explanation, if any, to the secretary of state no later than seventy-five days before the election at which the proposed question or issue is to be submitted to the voters; (E) Prepare, or designate a group of persons to prepare, arguments in support of or in opposition to a constitutional amendment proposed by a resolution of the general assembly, a constitutional amendment or state law proposed by initiative petition, or a state law, or section or item of state law, subject to a referendum petition, if the persons otherwise responsible for the preparation of those arguments fail to timely prepare and file them; (F) Direct the means by which the secretary of state shall disseminate information concerning proposed constitutional amendments, proposed laws, and referenda to the voters; (G) Direct the secretary of state to contract for the publication in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in the state of the ballot language, explanations, and arguments regarding each of the following: (1) A constitutional amendment or law proposed by initiative petition under Section 1g of Article II of the Ohio Constitution; (2) A law, section, or item of law submitted to the electors by referendum petition under Section 1g of Article II of the Ohio Constitution; (3) A constitutional amendment submitted to the electors by the general assembly under Section 1 of Article XVI of the Ohio Constitution. Effective Date: 2002 HB445 12-23-2002; 05-02-2006; 2007 HB119 09-29-2007 This addendum from Maurice: The Ohio ballot board shall do all of the following: (A) Examine, within ten days after its receipt, each written initiative petition received from the attorney general under section 3519.01 of the Revised Code to determine whether it contains only one proposed law or constitutional amendment so as to enable the voters to vote on a proposal separately. If the board so determines, it shall certify its approval to the attorney general, who then shall file with the secretary of state in accordance with division (A) of section 3519.01 of the Revised Code a verified copy of the proposed law or constitutional amendment together with its summary and the attorney general’s certification of it. If the board determines that the initiative petition contains more than one proposed law or constitutional amendment, the board shall divide the initiative petition into individual petitions containing only one proposed law or constitutional amendment so as to enable the voters to vote on each proposal separately and certify its approval to the attorney general. If the board so divides an initiative petition and so certifies its approval to the attorney general, the petitioners shall resubmit to the attorney general appropriate summaries for each of the individual petitions arising from the board’s division of the initiative petition, and the attorney general then shall review the resubmissions as provided in division (A) of section 3519.01 of the Revised Code.
See our Pictures tab for pictures of the initial press conference.
Requirements: A minimum of 402,073 valid signatures of registered voters in Ohio must be submitted in order to qualify this initiative for placement on the November ballot. Assuming at least a 67% validity rate can be achieved, a minimum of 600,000 signatures must be collected. In addition, in at least 44 of the counties, the signatures must equal at least 10% of the votes cast in the preceding Presidential election. The following table is used to analyze the level of effort to achieve the requisite number of votes by county. The timing required is 125 days prior to the early absentee voting of the next general election (June 30). Additional time can be requested in 10 day increments. County Profile | Region | County | 2006 Tot | 10% | Republican Strong | C | Auglaize | 16,907 | 1,691 | Republican Strong | C | Champaign | 14,264 | 1,426 | Republican Strong | C | Crawford | 16,744 | 1,674 | Republican Strong | C | Darke | 20,223 | 2,022 | Republican Strong | C | Delaware | 64,773 | 6,477 | Republican Strong | C | Fairfield | 54,004 | 5,400 | Republican Strong | C | Fayette | 8,402 | 840 | Republican Strong | C | Hardin | 9,723 | 972 | Republican Strong | C | Knox | 20,780 | 2,078 | Republican Strong | C | Licking | 59,051 | 5,905 | Republican Strong | C | Logan | 16,080 | 1,608 | Republican Strong | C | Madison | 13,441 | 1,344 | Republican Strong | C | Marion | 21,691 | 2,169 | Republican Strong | C | Mercer | 15,646 | 1,565 | Republican Strong | C | Morgan | 5,516 | 552 | Republican Strong | C | Morrow | 12,575 | 1,258 | Republican Strong | C | Muskingum | 28,719 | 2,872 | Republican Strong | C | Pickaway | 17,960 | 1,796 | Republican Strong | C | Shelby | 17,029 | 1,703 | Republican Strong | C | Union | 16,877 | 1,688 | Republican Strong | NE | Ashland | 19,355 | 1,936 | Republican Strong | NE | Geauga | 39,148 | 3,915 | Republican Strong | NE | Holmes | 8,108 | 811 | Republican Strong | NE | Medina | 65,511 | 6,551 | Republican Strong | NE | Richland | 45,799 | 4,580 | Republican Strong | NE | Wayne | 38,546 | 3,855 | Republican Strong | NW | Allen | 36,229 | 3,623 | Republican Strong | NW | Defiance | 13,638 | 1,364 | Republican Strong | NW | Fulton | 16,141 | 1,614 | Republican Strong | NW | Hancock | 25,675 | 2,568 | Republican Strong | NW | Henry | 11,473 | 1,147 | Republican Strong | NW | Paulding | 7,479 | 748 | Republican Strong | NW | Putnam | 14,161 | 1,416 | Republican Strong | NW | Van Wert | 10,409 | 1,041 | Republican Strong | NW | Williams | 13,033 | 1,303 | Republican Strong | NW | Wyandot | 8,160 | 816 | Republican Strong | SE | Washington | 22,788 | 2,279 | Republican Strong | SW | Adams | 8,685 | 869 | Republican Strong | SW | Brown | 14,044 | 1,404 | Republican Strong | SW | Butler | 115,895 | 11,590 | Republican Strong | SW | Clermont | 65,010 | 6,501 | Republican Strong | SW | Clinton | 12,646 | 1,265 | Republican Strong | SW | Hamilton | 287,496 | 28,750 | Republican Strong | SW | Highland | 13,158 | 1,316 | Republican Strong | SW | Warren | 68,091 | 6,809 | Republican Strong | WC | Greene | 59,113 | 5,911 | Republican Strong | WC | Miami | 37,054 | 3,705 | Republican Strong | WC | Preble | 15,553 | 1,555 | Republican Lean | C | Coshocton | 13,408 | 1,341 | Republican Lean | NE | Lake | 88,006 | 8,801 | Republican Lean | NW | Huron | 18,917 | 1,892 | Republican Lean | NW | Sandusky | 22,736 | 2,274 | Republican Lean | NW | Seneca | 20,051 | 2,005 | Republican Lean | SE | Gallia | 10,165 | 1,017 | Republican Lean | SE | Jackson | 10,423 | 1,042 | Republican Lean | SE | Noble | 5,072 | 507 | Republican Lean | SE | Ross | 23,839 | 2,384 | Swing | C | Guernsey | 13,375 | 1,338 | Swing | C | Hocking | 9,860 | 986 | Swing | C | Perry | 11,291 | 1,129 | Swing | NE | Carroll | 11,152 | 1,115 | Swing | NE | Tuscarawas | 31,585 | 3,159 | Swing | NW | Wood | 45,616 | 4,562 | Swing | SE | Lawrence | 19,109 | 1,911 | Swing | SE | Meigs | 7,707 | 771 | Swing | SE | Pike | 9,776 | 978 | Swing | SE | Scioto | 26,369 | 2,637 | Swing | SE | Vinton | 4,422 | 442 | Democrat Strong | NE | Ashtabula | 33,865 | 3,387 | Democrat Strong | NE | Cuyahoga | 454,100 | 45,410 | Democrat Strong | NE | Jefferson | 26,133 | 2,613 | Democrat Strong | NE | Lorain | 100,632 | 10,063 | Democrat Strong | NE | Mahoning | 95,251 | 9,525 | Democrat Strong | NE | Portage | 54,970 | 5,497 | Democrat Strong | NE | Stark | 139,414 | 13,941 | Democrat Strong | NE | Summit | 197,747 | 19,775 | Democrat Strong | NE | Trumbull | 81,128 | 8,113 | Democrat Strong | NR | Erie | 30,106 | 3,011 | Democrat Strong | NW | Lucas | 142,784 | 14,278 | Democrat Strong | SE | Athens | 19,840 | 1,984 | Democrat Strong | SE | Belmont | 23,996 | 2,400 | Democrat Strong | SE | Monroe | 6,066 | 607 | Democrat Strong | SW | Montgomery | 189,201 | 18,920 | Democrat Lean | C | Clarke | 49,056 | 4,906 | Democrat Lean | C | Franklin | 373,258 | 37,326 | Democrat Lean | NE | Columbiana | 36,223 | 3,622 | Democrat Lean | NW | Ottawa | 17,207 | 1,721 | Democrat Lean | SE | Harrison | 6,095 | 610 |
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