Rick Santorum Sweeps Alabama And Mississippi: Leading up to Tuesday night, all of the polls and all of the med... http://t.co/26IsXoz5
Stuffed Suits article RSS feed
Share this page with your friends
Home 
News The Daily Stuff Obama Health care debacle is an issue for South Carolina
News The Daily Stuff Obama Health care debacle is an issue for South Carolina
|
06 March 2011
In his recent editorial “GOP hypocrisy on health care must end”, Senator Brad Hutto plays the demagogue he alleges of his GOP colleagues. It’s clear Sen. Hutto’s main beef is with Republicans “wasting time and tax dollars on meaningless resolutions calling for the dismantling of health care reform.” However, an attack on GOP legislative health care plans helps bring the “red meat” to his Liberal readership, using personal attacks in lieu of ideas. In accusing Republican Constitutional Officers and Legislators of hypocrisy, Senator Hutto demands they “opt out” of their state health insurance before criticizing Obamacare. Both the attack on Legislator health care plans and the defense of Obamacare from the state perspective are misguided and demand response.
First, Obamacare is a legitimate issue of concern to our state’s political leaders. During the 2010 campaign, a primary platform issue to Nikki Haley and most other winning Republican candidates was opposition to Obamacare. I have a unique perspective, having run for state-level office during the 2010 cycle. Republican candidates, myself included, promised voters we would fight Obamacare due to the harmful effects it would have on the state economy. It was a legitimate defense of our Constitution, which guarantees a federal form of government. Obamacare is a clear violation of that federal mandate.
The Constitution limits the power of the federal government to specifically enumerated powers, leaving other powers with the states and people. Even a limited understanding of that sacred document makes clear the Federal government has no power to dictate universal health care. This becomes an economic issue to state leaders, as our citizens pay the vast majority of their taxes to the Federal Government. Taxes which increase due to Obamacare. As our small business leaders are increasingly taxed, they must lay off employees. All taxpayers have less discretionary spending to continue our state’s economic growth. In this way our state suffers under Obamacare and our political leaders have the duty to fight back.
I believe most political leaders, including and especially Republicans, want to see all Americans obtain affordable health care. However, in comparing our current system to the health care in places like Europe (with government controlled universal health care) Americans realize we don’t need to throw out the baby with the bath water. The government just does not do a good job in areas outside legitimate government functions. Additionally, Americans are a freedom- loving people and demand liberty. We shouldn’t be penalized for making a decision to decline health care. Obama outlaws that choice since “government knows best!”
On the issue of legislative health care plans, Senator Hutto has taken a cheap shot. As a member of the Army Reserves, I have access to Tricare which is a government plan. However, unlike universal health care like Europe it is one I have earned due to service with the military. Likewise, we pay our legislators a modest salary, giving health care as a reasonable part of the compensation package. Republican politicians do not criticize government health plans like Tricare or existing state-run health care. Existing government health care is a legitimate part of the overall compensation plan for those in government service. Like private sector plans, this health care has been earned by those receiving. The problem with Obamacare is the universal mandate and government involvement in the private sector. It means higher taxes and onerous responsibilities on the backs of our small business leaders. Criticizing Obamacare while benefiting from a government health care plan is not hypocrisy.
Democrats in our Legislature need to understand that the people of South Carolina have spoken. We don’t want the continued demagoguery demanding government hand-outs through increasing taxes on our small businesses. The last two years have shown Obama’s big government “stimulus” plan to be a sham. South Carolina cannot handle another big government debacle during these critical times. We need political leaders who will put our state and nation first by focusing on business growth and not more government pork. We certainly don’t need to punish those political leaders with the courage to speak the voice of South Carolina.
God Bless America,
Bill Connor