Virginia lawmaker says Congress like ‘mobsters’ forcing health mandates

Insurance and Financial Advisor ^ | February 1, 2010 | Keith Martin

[La Lydia]

As Congress debates a final comprehensive health care bill for the nation, one Virginia delegate is proposing that state residents, and possibly others nationwide, not be held to any coverage mandates. Delegate Robert G. Marshall (R-13th District) has filed the “Virginia Health Care Freedom Act” (HB 10), which would “protect an individual’s right and power to participate or decline to participate in a health care system or plan,” according to a summary of the bill.

“Mobsters used to offer ‘protection’ to business owners, so when Congress says that if individuals don’t become customers of businesses that contribute to them, to me that crosses the line,” Marshall told IFAwebnews.com. “For me, it is hard to distinguish what is going on in Washington, D.C., from criminal activity.”

The proposed legislation would also prohibit penalties, taxes or fines upon those who decline to sign a contract with an insurer for health coverage. The only exception, according to the text of the bill, is if a court requires coverage as part of a judicial dispute. The bill’s language also protects “entities” from mandatory health care purchases, which flies in the face of possible employer mandates to provide insurance for employees or pay a payroll tax. Marshall said he is confident the measure will pass the Virginia House, but thinks Senate Democrats will hold up the bill. Marshall has found an ally in former Virginia Attorney General Bill Mims, who also said he believes the mandate “is open for constitutional challenge,” according to the Richmond Times Dispatch.

In a statement accompanying the introduction of the bill, Marshall said that the measure has been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly, which began Jan. 13, and “can be introduced in other state legislatures in 2010.”

He told IFAwebnews.com that state legislators in New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania have contacted him about duplicating the measure in their jurisdictions and a legislator in Iowa recently discussed the bill on a radio program.

Forcing citizens to purchase private insurance violates the compact between elected representatives and citizens reducing government ‘of, by and for the people,’ to demands of lords over subjects,” Marshall claims. “It is the usurpers in Washington who propose to alter self government under the guise of health care reform.”

[La Lydia]

Marshall’s bill was approved by a subcommittee of the House Committee on Commerce and Labor for review by the full committee.

[J40000]

I applaud you, Mr. Marshall!

You hit the nail RIGHT on the head!

This is strong-arm extortion, plain and simple.

[Red Badger]

He’s right. Mobsters make you “buy” fire “insurance” so you won’t have a fire. Congress makes you “buy” their “health insurance” so you won’t have health...........

[maine-iac7]

Reid and gang have still not seated Brown and don’t intend to until 11 Feb - the longest they can delay.

They are working feverishly, still, behind closed doors, to cobble together anything they can re the take over bill to get passed with their now non-senator, who is still voting.

Past Mass. condidates have been seated in 1 and 2 days after election - the only difference being that they were democrats.

We need to be burning up the phone lines and crashing the email sites of our reps in DC demanding Brown be seated NOW!

And FOX = Beck and all need to be bringing this double standard to the public. Even if it doens’t get Brown seated before the 11th - it will educate the public to just one more shameful game the Rats play....by-partison, obama???

Forked tongues

[RetSignman]

The left side of the aisle, mobbed up.