Bill Text: DE HCR28 | 2009-2010 | 145th General Assembly | Draft

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Bill Title: Urging The 111th Congress To Abandon The Irrational Pursuit Of A Fiscally Irresponsible Federal Healthcare Entitlement Plan And Enact Less Costly Alternatives To Reduce The Cost Of Healthcare And Increase Its Availability For All Americans.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 16-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-18 - Introduced in House and assigned to House Administration Committee [HCR28 Detail]

Download: Delaware-2009-HCR28-Draft.html

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SPONSOR:	Rep. Hudson & Rep. D. Short & Rep. Briggs King & Rep. Ramone & Sen. Booth & Sen. Bonini;
	Reps. Cathcart, Carey, Hocker, Lavelle, Lee, Manolakos, Outten, Wilson; Sen. Simpson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

145th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 28

URGING THE 111TH CONGRESS TO ABANDON THE IRRATIONAL PURSUIT OF A FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE FEDERAL HEALTHCARE ENTITLEMENT PLAN AND ENACT LESS COSTLY ALTERNATIVES TO REDUCE THE COST OF HEALTHCARE AND INCREASE ITS AVAILABILITY FOR ALL AMERICANS.

WHEREAS, a recent Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey (conducted March 15, 2010) revealed that 53-percent of Americans oppose the healthcare plan proposed by President Obama and his congressional supporters, while 43-percent said they support it; and

WHEREAS, the Rasmussen survey further indicated that 46-percent of those polled "Strongly Oppose" the healthcare plan, while only 23-percent "Strongly Favor" it; and

WHEREAS, the Rasmussen survey concluded that opposition to the plan "continues to stem, in part, from unchanging views that the plan will drive up the cost and worsen the quality of health care in America"; and

WHEREAS, despite the will of the majority of Americans, the federal government is aggressively moving forward with enacting this vast, new healthcare entitlement program; and

WHEREAS, the federal government has set new records for deficit spending and President Obama recently (2/12/10) signed into law a bill raising the public debt limit $14.294 trillion – approximately $113,000 per taxpayer; and

WHEREAS, the proposed new healthcare program will cost hundreds-of-billions of dollars to implement and operate annually; and

WHEREAS, these costs will exacerbate already unsustainable levels of federal spending, not only burdening taxpayers, but potentially jeopardizing the viability of the nation's currency on the world market and the stability of the economy; and

WHEREAS, the aforementioned Rasmussen Reports survey reflects this concern by showing that 57-percent of voters believe the federal healthcare plan will hurt the U.S. economy; and

WHEREAS, the new federal healthcare plan will extend coverage, in part, by adding at least 15 million Americans to the Medicaid rolls; and

WHEREAS, a significant portion of the costs associated with this new Medicaid expansion will fall on the shoulders of already beleaguered state governments and the taxpayers supporting them; and

WHEREAS, the federal plan is not equitable since some states (Nebraska and Louisiana) have received promises they will receive additional Medicaid assistance in exchange for the support of the plan by members of their Congressional delegations; and

WHEREAS, despite its costs, the federal government plan will still not result in universal healthcare coverage; and

WHEREAS, through the use of mandates and fines, millions of Americans would be pushed out of employer-based coverage and into government healthcare, reducing freedom-of-choice and eliminating competitive incentives to make the plan responsive to citizens' needs; and

WHEREAS, the federal government has not fully explored less expensive, less onerous options to reduce the cost of healthcare, slow future cost growth, and expand availability; and

WHEREAS, the power to impose a healthcare system on American citizens is not an authority the federal government is granted under the terms of the U.S. Constitution; and

WHEREAS, under the 10^th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, powers not specifically delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 145th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that we direct our Congressional delegation to abandon the poorly considered and fiscally irresponsible federal healthcare plan now under consideration.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Delaware General Assembly urges our Congressional delegation, as well as all members of the 111^th U.S. Congress, to negotiate and enact a law facilitating the establishment of regional healthcare co-ops; a law allowing Americans to purchase healthcare insurance plans across state lines; legislation resulting in medical malpractice tort reform; and other viable measures to address current healthcare concerns that would not result in the establishment of a vast, costly and inefficient federal bureaucracy.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that should the U.S. Congress imprudently move ahead with enacting a federal healthcare plan, our Congressional delegation is directed to uphold the concept of states' rights by including an "opt-in" provision – requiring the consent of each state to join the program via a vote of their legislatures.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon passage of this resolution, copies of the legislation shall be presented to all three members of the Delaware's Congressional delegation.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution makes the case that the current healthcare entitlement program being considered by Congress is not supported by the majority of Americans; is not fiscally wise or sustainable; and will increase the burden on taxpayers while reducing healthcare options.

It further maintains that the federal government does not have the authority to impose a federal healthcare program and urges the U.S. Congress to pursue less costly and more viable alternatives to reduce the cost of healthcare and increase its availability.

Lastly, should the 111th Congress decide to abandon rational thinking and thwart the will of the American people by enacting a federal healthcare entitlement, it urges Delaware's Congressional delegation to advocate for a provision that would require states to choose to "opt-in" to the program.