RELEASE: Ohio House Passes Health Care Compact

COLUMBUS—During today’s session, the Ohio House of Representatives passed legislation that, with approval from Congress, would give Ohio more freedom and flexibility over its healthcare policies.

 

House Bill 34, sponsored by Reps. Wes Retherford (R-Hamilton) and Terry Boose (R-Norwalk), ratifies the Health Care Compact., through which Ohio would enter a multi-state contract that would secure more rights to the states for healthcare policy decisions. The measure is a response to rising costs and deficits, as well as the increased federal overreach into health care. If signed into law by Governor Kasich and approved by the US Congress, the Compact allows Ohio to suspend the operation of all federal laws and regulations that are inconsistent with Ohio laws adopted through the Compact. Should Congress approve the Compact, however, it would still be up to the state legislature whether to change Ohio’s healthcare policy, as well as what those specific changes would be.

 

“This bill is a great first step to get  healthcare decisions back in the hands of state government, and we will continue to work to make sure Ohioans will have control over their healthcare decisions,” Boose said.

 

Under the legislation, Ohio would receive federal funding to support health coverage each fiscal year. The amount of funding would be determined based on the estimated level of federal funding used for health care, which would be updated periodically based on population and inflation.

 

“For years, we have heard the complaints about the ACA,” Retherford said. “We have also seen attempt after attempt to repeal the ACA, but with no back up plan. Ohio, along with several other states, has taken the lead on finding a suitable replacement to the Federal control of our healthcare system.  By returning these dollars to the states, we can start working on state-by-state reform that will best serve our constituents. I want to thank my colleagues in supporting my efforts to find a solution to our healthcare crisis. Ohioans are demanding actions, not just words, and today the Ohio House took that step.”

 

The Health Care Compact included a set of core principles, inspired by the goals of personal freedom and federalism. The principles include:

 

• The separation of powers, both between the branches of the federal government and between federal and state authority, is essential to the preservation of individual liberty
• The Constitution creates a federal government of limited and enumerated powers, and reserves to the states or to the people those powers not granted to the federal government
• The member states seek to protect individual liberty and personal control over healthcare decisions, and believe the best method to achieve these ends is by vesting regulatory authority over health care in the states

 

House Bill 34 now goes to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

 

Mansfield Tea Party on Introduction of Healthcare Compact Legislation in Ohio House

Release:

Columbus, OH - June 27, 2013 - The Health Care Compact is an interstate compact that gives each individual state control over the federal health care dollars spent within that state, and the authority to determine the best system of health care for its citizens, without interference from the federal government.

The Health Care Compact (HB 227) was introduced into the Ohio House by co-sponsors Rep. Wes Retherford and Rep. Terry Boose Thursday morning. "We've been working very closely with Reps Retherford and Boose, as well as others, over the past few months," said Marianne Gasiecki, State Co-coordinator for Tea Party Patriots. "They asked the tough questions, and have a thorough understanding of the benefits of a long term solution like the health care compact."

The federal government has been garnering more and more centralized power. The most recent display of this power was via the, arguably, most influential agency of the federal government, the IRS. The IRS would be the agency responsible for ensuring the enforcement of the Affordable Care Act.

Ohio would be the ninth state to pass the health care compact, which must then receive a simple majority up or down vote in the US Congress. The health care compact is a critical step towards state sovereignty and self-governance, bringing accountability and the decision making process closer to the people.

St. Reps. Retherford and Boose Introduce Health Care Compact Legislation

Release:

COLUMBUS—State Representatives Wes Retherford (R-Hamilton) and Terry Boose (R-Norwalk) recently introduced legislation that would enter Ohio into a multi-state health care compact.

A multi-state health care compact would allow Ohio to have full control over the federal health care dollars spent within the state, which in Ohio alone would equate to $35 billion annually. Additionally, states within the compact have the authority to craft their own health care systems and regulations to best suit their individual needs, rather than relying on centralized control by the federal government.

From left to right: Rep. Mark Romanchuk, Rep. John Becker, Rep. Wes Retherford, Rep. Terry Boose

“Entering into an interstate health care compact would have tremendous long-term benefits for the state of Ohio,” said Rep. Retherford. “It will allow us to retain local control over tax dollars and help us to reduce waste, increase efficiency and provide better health outcomes for our citizens.”

“We need to allow our health care system the flexibility to provide sustainable, quality health care for Ohioans,” said Rep. Boose. “With health care decisions made at the state level rather than by unaccountable, distant federal bureaucrats, Ohio could tailor its own systems to address its needs.”

Eight states have passed health care compact legislation. The compact would go into effect with the approval of the U.S. Congress.

The legislation will be designated a bill number and assigned to a House committee in the near future.

St. Rep. Terry Boose (OHD-58) on TSA

I've been trading some emails with State Representative Terry Boose's office and I am listing him as a "wait and see." It is clear from the conversation that Boose is concerned and wants to emphasize that he does not currently support the way they are conducting the searches and believes them to be unconstitutional. He also encourages people who plan on flying to have the phone number of each county sheriff’s office for each airport that the traveler plans on stopping at, in case a TSA agent commits a crime against them or observes a crime being committed against another.  Good advice all around if you ask me.

Kudos to Terry Boose for being the first member of the Ohio House of Representatives to reply to my email.

Dems Bequeath Ohio with Duplicative Legislation

Release:

Majority Attempts to Conceal Mistakes

COLUMBUS – The Ohio House of Representatives has received several pieces of legislation from the majority caucus that are strikingly similar to other bills introduced earlier this General Assembly from the other side of the aisle.

Earlier this week, House Bill 562 was introduced that would eliminate the $20 late fee endorsed and signed into law by House Democrats and Governor Strickland with the passage of the biennial budget. State Representative Deborah Newcomb (D-Conneaut) and 15 of her Democratic colleagues cosponsored this measure that reverses a measure they previously endorsed by supporting House Bill 2. However, State Reps. Ron Maag (R-Lebanon) and Terry Boose (R- Norwalk), introduced House Bill 428 in January 2010, nearly seven months earlier and encouraged all members of the Ohio House of Representatives to join them on this necessary repeal.

“Every dime, every dollar counts in today’s economy. I am elated to see that my colleagues have introduced this legislation and look forward to swift action,” said Rep. Terry Boose. “Nonetheless, the majority Democratic Caucus cannot play both sides of the field. While Ohioans are suffering and partisan politics have been placed aside in the struggling business owners’ mind, the majority party does one thing, and then attempts to cover their malicious, expensive intent with political gimmicks.”

The combined list of cosponsors to eliminate the late fee represents more than enough support to repeal it. Earlier this year the Daily Record reported that more than $16 million has been collected from 818,429 individuals. However, the burden of duplicative legislation has been forced on the hard-working families of Ohio more than once.

State Rep. Ron Maag questioned the duration of time that had elapsed, asking, “Why won’t the Speaker call us into session and pass legislation today? Why did the House Democrats wait nearly eight months to do this? I look forward to swift attention being paid to this necessary repeal, just like the swift action with House Bill 473.”

Rep. Maag introduced House Bill 132, legislation to address “sexting,” in April 2009. More than a year later, House Bill 473, a legislative measure to prohibit sexting, was introduced in March 2010 and the House voted on the bill two short months later.