Legislature must resist federal power grab

I oppose the federal government’s Affordable Care Act and any attempt to implement it in Idaho because the cost of agreeing to government tyranny would be devastating. It is a federal power grab and an intrusion on individual privacy. Idaho should resist being a subcontractor to Obamacare and more reckless federal spending.
Obamacare and its outrageous expense will cripple our economy, plus it is another attempt by the federal government to take over our civil liberties. Idaho should refuse to implement the ACA and reject establishing an exchange. It is in the best interest of Idaho to keep resisting this law in every way. It’s important to show state sovereignty.
The trouble with a state versus a federal health exchange is that it doesn’t place the state in control — a state exchange still has to comply with the same rules as a federal one. What these bills really do is increase government control at the expense of personal choice, freedom and responsibility. People must be responsible for planning their own lives. The government has tricked many people into thinking that it has the responsibility or authority to plan and control our lives.
Human sovereignty defined the American Revolution, not the empowerment of an absolute government. The U.S. Supreme Court has reminded states that they are “separate” and “independent” and asked them to “act like it.” The Supreme Court has ruled that “The federal government does not have the power to order people to buy health insurance,” so why would I support implementing a state exchange?
We are told we can either create a state health insurance exchange ourselves or we can fall under a federal exchange. The health insurance lobby wants you to believe that implementing a state insurance exchange is the preferred solution for complying with the federal mandate. I support a free market approach run by the people - not the government - and that will save our freedom and billions of dollars.
The Idaho Republican party has taken a stand against this exchange yet Gov. C.L. “Butch Otter” continues to refuse to stand strong with his own party and at least 25 other states that are opposing this law. I am disappointed in the governor’s decision to support this.
I plan to stand strong against this legislation. Agreeing to the proposed Idaho legislation is consenting to Obamacare and I can’t do that to the great people of Idaho. I will support state sovereignty. I will support the Idaho Republican Party. And, I will support individual freedom by voting “no.”

Paul Shepherd is the District 7B representative in the Idaho House of Representatives.