| Updated: 4/27/2010 8:46 am |
Published: 4/26/2010 8:32 pm |
One U.S. Senate candidate and a citizens' group are taking some big steps this week to try to reverse the health care plan. They say it's unconstitutional, forcing Americans to get insurance or pay a fine.
As promised the citizens' group Secure Arkansas plans to file lawsuit against the federal government Tuesday morning. And a Republican who wants the Senate seat held by Blanche Lincoln is pulling out all the stops to get people's attention on the issue.
It's not your typical ambulance, not by a long shot, showcasing cheeky images of health care reform supporters including Democrat Blanche Lincoln and President Barack Obama. Jim Holt says this ambulance which he calls America's Ambulance is the first of its kind in the country. But he'd like to see one in every state to bring attention to the cause of those who want health care reform repealed.
The U.S. Senate candidate said, "When ever in the history of our nation have we had this much government bureaucracy placed upon us?"
Todd Sharp said, "Never before has the government said you will buy insurance or you will buy anything and if you do not we will fine you for it. We're looking at that and we don't want that kind of control in our life from the federal government."
Sharp says since the state of Arkansas won't join more than 20 others in suing the federal government over reform, Secure Arkansas will. But the state must determine how to pay for the additional $100 million a year to meet the new health care mandates.
Matt DeCample, spokesperson for Governor Mike Beebe, said, "I think everyone's in favor of getting good health care to all our people. Whether or not it's the most cost-effective way to do that, whether it's the most efficient way to do that, that's what we're trying to figure out."
Incidentally the state shouldn't have to pay for the additional health care costs until 2017. But there will be a large number of people added to the Medicare program so state leaders are trying to prepare.
