This diary will be short as I don't have many sources for this, but it's another outrage from partisan, ideological vacuum of Tallahassee that continually plays up politics (and tries to hide it's rampant corruption) while serving corporate and developer interests long before they acknowledge the citizens of the state.
Today, Florida legislative members filed a bill to negate any national healthcare reform measures enacted by the federal government.
The good news is, this measure would require a public vote to be enacted -- meaning the population of the state of Florida would ahve to pass the measure by 60% of the vote in November of 2010 for it to be enacted.
The bad news? This is Florida, the state that is influenced far too easily by scare tactics and big money.
From the article:
The proposed constitutional amendment is in reaction to President Barack Obama's proposed overhaul of the country's health care.
Sen. Carey Baker (R-Eustis) and Rep. Scott Plakon (R-Longwood) are behind the measure, called the Florida Health Care Freedom Act.
Another 22 House members have co-sponsored the measure.
And the proposed amendment's language:
Health Care Services: Proposes creation of s. 28, Art. X of State Constitution to prohibit laws or rules from compelling any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system; permit person or employer to purchase lawful health care services directly from health care provider; permit health care provider to accept direct payment from person or employer for lawful health care services; exempt persons, employers, & health care providers from penalties & fines for paying or accepting direct payment for lawful health care services; permit purchase or sale of health insurance in private health care systems; & specifies what amendment does not affect or prohibit.
The Florida state legislature and state government is dominated by the GOP, and I have few doubts that this measure will be passed by legislative members. That's just how ass-backwards things are in Tallahassee. Those who want to crow how blue Florida is (hey, they voted for Obama!) need only look at who keeps being re-elected to control of the state to realize that the Federal election did not quite influence the state election in Florida.
And just as an FYI, contact information for the Florida Legislature and Legislature members can be found here.