Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) today called on a House committee to approve Senate-passed legislation "which protects the freedom of Tennesseans to make their own health care choices."
The Tennessee Health Freedom Act "would protect a citizen’s right to participate or not in any healthcare system and would prohibit the federal government from imposing fines on that person’s decision."
The move comes two days before a congressional vote on healthcare legislation, which Lt. Governor Ramsey said "would punish those who choose not to purchase a government-approved health plan."
He said, “No legislation should ever take from Americans their right to control their own medical affairs. The federal government is out of control and there is no greater example of this than the current healthcare debacle. The state House of Representatives must pass the Tennessee Health Freedom Act to protect our citizens from federal overreaching.”
The legislation would still allow individuals the option to participate in a federal program. The bill, set to be heard Wednesday in the House Industrial Impact subcommittee, acknowledges the right of Tennesseans to refuse to participate in a government-run health insurance program. It also calls on the state’s Attorney General to take action in the defense or prosecution of rights protected under the legislation.