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Bill to reject health care

From Seth Harp

By Sandra Parrish @ January 13, 2010 6:08 PM
(WSB Radio State Capitol Bureau)—A Republican state senator is pushing a measure that would allow Georgians to vote on a constitutional amendment to opt out of any federally mandated health care plan.  Sen. Seth Harp (R-Midland) says the amendment would be placed on November’s ballot.  “You may become a self-insurer, you may pursue private coverage, but the idea of a federal mandate I think is repugnant to the American people,” he says.  But Democratic Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) says it’s unconstitutional and calls it a nationwide effort led by the insurance industry.  “It’s to undermine the reform that’s going on because they want to create an illusion that there’s a public rejection,” she tells WSB’s Sandra Parrish. 

Harp, whose running for state insurance commissioner, denies the insurance industry is behind the move or that the measure is unconstitutional.
“Are we doing it to promote litigation, no… we’re protecting the right of choice of the people of Georgia,” he says.

The measure would need to pass with two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate before it could be put before the voters.