Will South Dakota Legislators Repeal ObamaCare?
Last year, the South Dakota Legislature began the implementation of ObamaCare. The Legislature passed the bill (SB38) by a comfortable margin.
According to Representative Mark Kirkeby, the bill belonged to, and was promoted by, the “supreme being” (the Governor), so Republicans were obliged to support it as “good soldiers”. WOW!
Since we now understand that the South Dakota Governor and the State Legislature began the implementation of ObamaCare last year (SB38), it should come as no surprise that voters are wanting to know WHO IS WITH THEM, and who is with the “supreme being”. Will they stand against ObamaCare with their votes or will they stand with another presumed “supreme being”, Barack Obama??
In 2010, I introduced the Health Care Freedom bill in the SD Senate (SB137). While it did survive the Senate State Affairs committee, it failed to pass on the Senate floor. You can see how your Senator voted on that issue here.
The majority of South Dakotans (and Americans) want ObamaCare to be repealed!
Why then, would Legislators object to declaring their support for the repeal of ObamaCare?
We think it should be easy for them to tell us where they stand. Many of them gave us a glimpse last year, and in 2010, when they voted on the issue. Now the SD Liberty Caucus has distributed a pledge to all South Dakota Legislators. It is simple and easy to understand:
“I pledge to restore the rights of the people and the authority of the State Legislature by voting FOR measures that REPEAL ObamaCare (the Affordable Health Care Act) in total or in part.”
They will either sign it as a show of support, or not return it. If they sign it, we know they support the repeal of ObamaCare. Ignoring it, or not returning it, is an obvious demonstration that they do not support the pledge. We will let you know where they stand.
Yesterday I was at the State Capitol. I was greeted by many friendly legislators. Some, however, didn’t seem so happy. Coincidentally, the unhappy ones were the ones who do not like to have their voting records and positions on issues disclosed openly for the voters to see. Get used to it!!!
We only wish that the Republican leadership would stop obstructing the work of conservative legislators like Representative Stace Nelson. He would ensure that the voting record of every legislator was easily accessible to voters on the Legislativ Research Council (LRC) website. Until now, it seems leadership has “commanded” the LRC to withhold research and assistance from conservative legislators so bills like that can’t see any progress. More on that soon.
For now, we have to dig to get information that should be quickly and easily accessible to constituents while some legislators whine that we have published their voting record.
Some are suggesting they can’t sign this pledge because it might require them to sign a bill that they see as somehow flawed not appropriate. PLEASE!!! Give us a break! This pledge is a simple disclosure of your support to repeal ObamaCare. If a flawed bill is presented, we wouldn’t want you to support it! We would help you defeat it! Please don’t insult the voters intelligence by insinuating we wouldn’t or couldn’t understand that! The SD Liberty Caucus will publish a website showing which legislators support the repeal of ObamaCare Pledge and which do not. We will report to you when the results are in and that website is available.
Voters are very competent, thank you, when given the information. We intend to see that they get it. With or without the help of legislators or leadership.
