Sooner State Says "Later" to Mandatory Insurance
By Paul Hsieh, MD @ 12:05 AM   
The November 21, 2008 Oklahoman reported that Oklahoma state insurance commissioner Kim Holland wanted to use the power of government to force citizens to purchase health insurance, but she recognized that it might be difficult to pass a Massachusetts-style law. So she proposed an alternate method of mandating health insurance:Barring a law requiring the purchase of health insurance, which Holland concedes would be a political long shot, "inducements" that penalize those who fail to insure themselves would help, she said.
Among the possible inducements Holland proposed was forfeiture of football season tickets to University of Oklahoma or Oklahoma State University games, forfeiture of lottery or gaming winnings, loss of state income tax deductions or licenses to drive, hunt or fish.
"None of those are very pleasant, but there needs to be a consequence," Holland said. Oklahomans were justifiably outraged at the possibility of forced to give up their football tickets, and the let her know. As the November 22, 2008 Oklahoman reported, she quickly had to backpedal, saying she was just kidding:Holland said the idea of a football ticket takeaway is impractical, unenforceable, and wasn't meant to be taken seriously.
"It was one small part of a larger discussion, and it was generally in jest," Holland said of the ticket takeaway concept. I'm glad that residents of the Sooner state were willing to stand up for their rights, when their football tickets were threatened.
I hope the rest of the country responds as strongly when Senator Max Baucus tries to impose the Massachusetts plan on the entire United States.
(Via Morality War.)Labels: Insurance, OK, States
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