Oklahoma House Committee Passes Obamacare Nullification, 8-5

Today, the Oklahoma House committee on States’ Rights had a hearing on House Bill 2073 (HB2073), introduced by State Representative Dan Fisher. The bill would declare unconstitutional the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, AKA Obamacare – and require the state legislature to “adopt and enact any and all measures as may be necessary to prevent” its enforcement within the State.

After some sharp discussion and debate, the committee passed the bill by a vote of 8-5. HB2073 will now be sent to the Calendar committee which will need to approve the bill before sending it to the full Oklahoma State House for a floor debate and vote. (action items below)

HB2073 declares that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as well as the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010:

are not authorized by the Constitution of the United States and violate its true meaning and intent as given by the founders and ratifiers, and are hereby declared to be invalid in the State of Oklahoma, shall not be recognized by this state, are specifically rejected by this state, and shall be considered null and void and of no effect in this state.

The bill also provides for criminal penalties for federal agents who attempt to enforce the unconstitutional federal act:

Any official, agent, or employee of the United States government or any employee of a corporation providing services to the United States government that enforces or attempts to enforce an act, order, law, statute, rule or regulation of the government of the United States in violation of this act shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or a term of imprisonment not exceeding five (5) years, or both.

Mark Kreslins, Executive Director for Oklahoma Liberty, an organization backing nullification in Oklahoma, was supportive of the committee vote. He said, “Today was a good day for liberty in Oklahoma and a good day for liberty over all. Now the real fight begins to have this bill heard on the house floor. Based on the response from thousands of Oklahomans they want this bill heard.”

Rep. Dan Fisher, author of House Bill 2073, said the U.S. Constitution does not grant Congress or President Barack Obama the power to pass the Affordable Care Act, even though the U.S. Supreme Court last year upheld the measure. “When states’ rights have been tread upon, we have a responsibility to speak up, and this is one of those moments,” said Fisher, R-Yukon.

“There comes a time when American citizens must say no.”

The final vote on HB2073 was as follows:

YEAS: 8
DeWitt Hall Murphey Roberts (S)
Fisher Moore Roberts (D) Walker

NAYS: 5
Cannaday Hardin Shelton
Floyd Matthews

ACTION ITEMS for Oklahoma

1. Call every member of the Calendar committee. Let them know that you want them to send HB2073 to the full house for a debate and vote. Strongly, but respectfully make sure they know that a YES vote on HB2073 is the only vote you’ll find acceptable.

Rep. Pam Peterson, R-Tulsa, chairman – (405) 557-7341 [email protected]
Rep. Don Armes, R-Faxon – (405) 557-7307 [email protected]
Rep. Josh Cockroft, R-Tecumseh – (405) 557-7349 [email protected]
Rep. Marian Cooksey, R-Edmond – (405) 557-7342 [email protected]
Rep. Elise Hall, R-Oklahoma City – (405) 557-7403 [email protected]
Rep. Chuck Hoskin, D-Vinita – (405) 557-7319 [email protected]
Rep. Dennis Johnson, R-Duncan – (405) 557-7327 [email protected]
Rep. Fred Jordan, R-Jenks – (405) 557-7331 [email protected]
Rep. Steve Kouplen, D-Beggs – (405) 557-7306 [email protected]
Rep. Jeannie McDaniel, D-Tulsa – (405) 557-7334 [email protected]
Rep. Skye McNiel, R-Bristow – (405) 557-7353 [email protected]
Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie – (405) 557-7350 [email protected]
Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Mustang – (405) 557-7333 [email protected]
Rep. Colby Schwartz, R-Yukon – (405) 557-7352 [email protected]
Rep. Ben Sherrer, D-Chouteau – (405) 557-7364 [email protected]
Rep. Jason Smalley, R-Stroud – (405) 557-7368 [email protected]
Rep. Todd Thomsen, R-Ada – (405) 557-7336 [email protected]
Rep. Emily Virgin, D-Norman – (405) 557-7323 [email protected]

2. Contact your State Representative right now. Let him or her know that you want them to vote YES on HB2073. Let them know that you consider it their Constitutional duty to do so as well. Let them know that the Supremacy Clause is clear – only those federal laws made in pursuance of the Constitution are supreme (details here)

Find your legislator’s contact info here:
http://www.oklegislature.gov/FindMyLegislature.aspx

3. Share this information widely. Please pass this along to your friends and family. Also share it with any and all grassroots groups you’re in contact with around the state. Please encourage them to email this information to their members and supporters.

4. Join the Nullify Obamacare group on facebook. Get involved with like-minded people in your state and report back to others on any feedback you get when in contact with your representative.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/nullifyobamacareoklahoma/

LEGISLATION AND TRACKING

If you would like to see model legislation to introduce in your state to nullify state health care exchanges, please see The Tenth Amendment Center’s Model Legislation: Model Legislation: Nullify Obamacare in 4 Steps

Track the status of federal health care nullification legislation in states around the country HERE