Supports Horner

To the editor:

I would like to address two recent letters to this paper that criticized state Rep. Mike Horner's position against the recently passed 2,000-plus page health care bill that was rushed through Congress, as well as Horner's subsequent support for the Florida Health Care Freedom Act. I applaud Rep. Horner and the other members of the Florida Legislature who supported the Health Care Freedom Act, which will appear on our November ballot.

The Health Care Freedom Act is simple. If approved by us, the voters, no resident or employer in Florida could be forced into any health care plan against their will and they would not have to fear government repercussions through fines or increased taxes. All the act does is protect Floridians from being forced by their federal government to participate in something they may not want to participate in. If the government cannot force you into a certain health plan, guess what? That means a private insurance market will still exist in Florida.

My goodness, sound the alarms. That sounds downright American to me.

Personally, I am tired of all these “well intentioned” laws and regulations, pushed on us by politicians, which result in more planning and control of my life. From the numerous discussions I’ve had with my fellow citizens on this very topic, I can assure you I am not alone.

Besides having no way to pay for this boondoggle, there are serious constitutional questions raised by the federal Health Care bill related to our federalist system. This law undermines the authority of the states through the individual mandate to purchase coverage, a Medicaid expansion mandate and a slew of new federal insurance regulations.

The bottom line – Obamacare is a big government mess that includes extensive new regulations, higher taxes and more spending. America, we cannot sustain our drunken spending and taxing ways and we cannot continue to adopt policies that hurt our private industries. It’s simply un-American and I'm thankful that people like Rep. Horner and others are willing to fight this wrongheaded policy.

Scott Abshier
St. Cloud