Post Date June 1, 2012  –Pennsylvania senators are now working on a proposal that will empower the state’s citizens to prohibit laws that will force them to buy health insurance.   This particular attempt is aimed at striking off the “individual mandate” provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The said proposal which will be a constitutional amendment is being worked on by 19 PA lawmakers led by State Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, a Republican. It has been learned that the proposal of these PA senators has already been approved by the Senate’s Banking and Insurance Committee last month. This move is being viewed by some as a blow to the PPACA which is also colloquially known as Obama care. If the said proposal would run smoothly at the Senate as well as at the House of Representatives, and if it will have the backing of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, PA residents will be able to decide whether to strike off the “individual mandate” provision through a referendum, as early next year.

To some analysts, it is unconstitutional for the federal government to compel residents in buying health insurance in Pennsylvania or in any other states.  One citizen had commented that, “If the government can compel people from doing so, then can there be any limits then to what else they can compel us to do?

In a Bloomberg report, it has been known that there also same proposals against the healthcare reform law being worked on in 23 other states, with voters in Arizona and Ohio having already approved the constitutional amendments that have prevented their citizens from law that requires them to buy health insurance.

The PPACA came into law when US President Barack Obama signed it on March 23, 2010. This law’s passing had seen a very rough storm as all Republican senators have voted against it, and while at the House of Representatives, it had a 219-212 votes. After its passing, the constitutionality of this healthcare reform law is being questioned at the US Supreme Court which is expected to have its decision by June this year.

-Mike 

Michael E. Dortch
President &  Managing Agent
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