Illinois Is 40th State to Defend Health Care Choice; Oklahoma Health Freedom Bill Poised for Ballot

WASHINGTON, March 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Yesterday, Illinois became the 40th state where legislators have introduced, or will introduce, legislation modeled after the American Legislative Exchange Council's (ALEC) Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act. Illinois House Bill 6842 prohibits a requirement to purchase health insurance and would provide the state with protection in a constitutional challenge of the federal health reform bill.

The Oklahoma Senate also gave preliminary approval Tuesday for House Joint Resolution 1054 -- a constitutional amendment protecting a patient's right to pay directly for medical care, and prohibiting penalties for failing to purchase health insurance -- to appear before voters on the November ballot. The resolution passed with strong bipartisan support, with 20 Oklahoma House Democrats and 11 Oklahoma Senate Democrats backing the legislation.

"In order to fix a few problems with one of the best health care systems in the world, the President and Congressional leaders are essentially wrecking a car that needs a tune-up," said Oklahoma Representative Mike Ritze, sponsor of HJR 1054."Oklahomans are happy with the current system and want no part of the new one. This legislation will help them send that message to the federal government," Ritze added.

ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act has already been enacted by the Virginia and Idaho legislatures, and measures in Oklahoma and Arizona will appear before voters on the November ballot. The legislation has also passed one chamber in Georgia, Missouri, and Tennessee and is accelerating in Florida and elsewhere.

A complete map with links to the legislation in each state is available online at www.alec.org.

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is the nation's largest nonpartisan, individual membership organization of state legislators.

Source: PRNewsWire Medical News