Representative Scott Plakon from Altamonte Springs sent us his press release on the Healthcare Freedom Act. The legislation will be introduced in the next session, and they hope to send it to the voters in the 2010 general election.

Representative Scott Plakon - Florida House of Representatives, District 37

PLAKON AND BAKER FILE FLORIDA HEALTH CARE FREEDOM ACT

State Representative Scott Plakon (R-Longwood) and State Senator Carey Baker (R-Eustis) filed legislation yesterday to preserve the freedom of Floridians to make their own health care decisions. House Joint Resolution 37 and the Senate companion amends Florida's Constitution to prohibit any law or rule from forcing people into a one size fits all, federally mandated health care system such as the proposals being considered by Congress.

"The federal government and its bureaucracies dictating who, when and what kind of treatment you receive is not reform at all," said Representative Plakon. "Senator Baker and I feel it is our duty to step up and reassert the rights of Floridians, in this case protecting our citizens' rights and freedoms to make appropriate decisions as it relates to their own health care. We believe this unprecedented power-grab by President Obama and Congress is clearly not in the best interests of the citizens of Florida"

"Today, we're drawing the line in the sand. The goal of any health care reform should be giving individuals greater access to health care - not socialization of health care in America," said Senator Baker. "Under the health care proposal being considered by Congress, the federal government will not only choose your doctor and ration your treatment, but also penalize people that want to pay for their own lawful health care services. That's just wrong."

Plakon added historical context to this important legislation, pointing out that in 1787 Dr. Benjamin Rush, America's foremost respected physician of his time, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, worked diligently to have the protection of "medical freedom" as a key addition to the US Constitution. Dr. Rush warned that medicine could become "an undercover dictatorship and force people who wish doctors and treatment of their own choice to submit to only what the dictating outfit offers."

Plakon and Baker agreed that America's health care system provides the most advanced health care opportunities in the world and that the fear of the federal government rationing care is a very real consequence of the legislation Congress is currently considering. Both said that efforts to improve health care access and affordability are important, but that the starting point in those efforts must start with protecting people's freedom in choosing doctors, treatments and insurance options.

To amend Florida's Constitution, the Florida House and Senate must pass the referendum language in next year's legislative session with a super majority (3/5) voting in favor. Then the measure goes before the voters in the 2010 November general election and must pass with at least 60% voting in favor.