Last week in the Idaho State Senate, Governor Butch Otter is held a public signing ceremony for HB 391a, the “Idaho Health Care Freedom Act.” The bill prohibits the enforcement of any federal mandate for Idahoans or Idaho businesses to purchase health care, and requires the state Attorney General to go to court to fight any such requirement. This bill will protect the people of Idaho, which is one of our obligations as a government, and is the right thing to do. This is a sovereignty issue for the state of Idaho and will help reduce government interference in the citizens of Idaho’s lives. About 30 other states are considering similar measures.

HB 391is not simply a memorial to Congress or a simple resolution. As a State Legislature, we often send memorials to Congress or enact resolutions, but those have no force in law. The Idaho Health Freedom Act is completely different. This is now a law of the State of Idaho. Congress needs to know that a nationalized healthcare system is not in the best interest of the United States.

During Sunday’s vote in Congress, there were countless American’s protesting Washington’s efforts to regulate our healthcare system. The majority of Americans did not want to see this 2,309 page health care bill become law. As of Monday, 53 percent of Americans oppose this bill and only 43 percent support it. This should have been an eye-opener to Congress, and they should not have proceeded with the passage of the bill.