Prop 106

It’s election time soon and so it behooves every American to actually educate themselves on what they will be voting on. While most of us are pretty informed about the candidates in the first tier positions (governor, senator, representative…), many of us fail to educate ourselves on all of the issues and options before we go to the polls.

The Secretary of State’s office sends out ample information which most people receive well before the election and promptly discard, rather than read. This is unfortunate, but I must admit, I have to throw myself into that category since I rarely read things in print these days. Fortunately the Secretary of State’s website lists all kinds of useful information including deadlines, campaign finance information, and ballot measure arguments, for and against, the propositions.

It’s a very useful tool and should be used to weed through all of the things being thrown out to the voters on election day. Here in Arizona we have 10 ballot propositions to consider ranging from land use issues to healthcare concerns. Unfortunately the advertising and even the wording of these propositions isn’t always clear and can intentionally cause confusion.

I’m taking the time to search through the ballot options here in Arizona and give my take on each of them by looking at both sides of the equation and making a decision based on the principles that I value.

The first one on the list is Prop 106, which is actually an amendment to the Arizona State Constitution.

Prop 106 is an effort to cut the legs off of Obamacare in Arizona. It states that no person or employer should be forced to provide or participate in any healthcare plan. It also says that people or employers should be able to purchase healthcare services directly. It denies the healthcare mandate put forward by the Obama Administration and stands on the 10th Amendment principle that any power not specifically ceded to the federal government falls within the domain of the state and local government. It is one of many laws or amendments being proposed in states all around the country this election season to try and rein in the ever expanding federal government.

The opposition to the law claims that the costs of healthcare will increase in Arizona if we do not buy into the federal mandates because those without insurance will continue to use emergency rooms like doctor’s offices. They also claim that without buying into the federal mandates we are leaving over a million of Arizona’s children without healthcare coverage.

There are several issues with this. Number one, Obamacare is already increasing insurance premiums across the country. This is inherent in the bill because of the minimum coverage conditions. Several companies have either dropped healthcare coverage or are requiring their employees to cough up a much larger portion of the premiums. Insurance companies are also dropping individual plans, which many people carried on their children. Fewer options, higher cost.

The new federal mandate will increase the cost of health insurance and decrease the number of people who are covered by an employer sponsored program. We are already seeing this move across the country.

The federal government already increased SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Plan) coverage drastically in the last few years, covering people who should no longer be considered children, who have income levels several times higher than the national poverty rate.

Opponents also argue that the only thing this amendment will do is guarantee a legal battle between Arizona and the federal government.

Absolutely, I couldn’t agree more. We will join with dozens of other states who already have or will pass similar measures to fight this encroachment on the rights of states and individuals. Just because something will cause a fight doesn’t mean that it should be avoided. In this case the whole purpose is to win the battle, not concede defeat. Fight and fight hard, fight loud, an overwhelming victory on Prop 106 would send a clear message to the new group of lawmakers in Congress and to the President that the people of Arizona don’t want Obamacare.

Prop 106 is like planting a flag in Arizona and saying, “no, we will not put up with a detached and corrupt federal government coming up with an indecipherable healthcare mandate that takes liberty and freedom away from the people and makes their healthcare decisions for them.”

Prop 106 is a big YES!