“Across the nation and throughout Missouri, millions of Americans stood up for freedom and against Barack Obama’s big government policies. In race after race and state after state, overwhelming Republican victories serve as both a repudiation of the Democrats failed agenda and a call to return to responsible, common-sense solutions that will create jobs, jumpstart the economy, and rein in a national debt that is threatening our future.

“The Missouri GOP would like to congratulate our Republican candidates at all levels of government for their hard-fought campaigns and thank them for their desire to serve their fellow Missourians—especially Senator-elect Roy Blunt, Congresswoman-elect Vicky Hartzler, Auditor-elect Tom Schweich, Congressman-elect Billy Long, and the new and returning GOP members of the Missouri General Assembly.

“Their historic victories will be remembered for generations to come.

“Most importantly, we would like to humbly thank the Missourians who put their trust in the Republican Party and our candidates.  Elected Republicans will strive every day to uphold the highest ideals of our nation and our constitution, to govern responsibly, and to be responsive to the people who have entrusted us to lead our state and nation during these perilous times.”

“Missouri’s Republican elected officials have been working hard to protect our state from the worst parts of the Democrats’ overbearing health care bill,” said David Cole, Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party. “The Republican Party believes that Missourians should be able to make their own health insurance decisions—not have them made by Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barack Obama in the smoke-filled rooms of Washington, DC.  Now, Missourians will be able to make their voices heard—and we strongly encourage them to send national Democrats a message.”

Earlier this year, legislators from both sides of the aisle joined together and overwhelmingly passed the Health Care Freedom Act to give Missourians the opportunity to take a stand against the national Democrats’ overbearing health care bill.  108 members of the State House and 26 members of the State Senate voted for HB 1764.  In total, 25 Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure.

The Health Care Freedom Act would, upon voter approval, provide that no federal law shall compel a patient, employer, or health care provider to participate in any government or privately run health care system, nor prohibit a patient or employer from paying directly for legal health care services.

Missourians will have the opportunity to vote on this measure—called Proposition C—on August 3.  For more information or to get involved in the campaign, visit www.mohealthfreedom.org.

The Missouri Republican State Committee’s action comes shortly after liberals filed a frivolous lawsuit in an attempt to deprive Missourians of the right to make their voices heard.

Text of the resolution is available below or online here.

Missouri Republican State Committee Resolution
Supporting Efforts to Oppose the Federal Health Care Takeover

WHEREAS, after months of secret backroom deals and arm-twisting, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid pressured enough Democrats into forcing massive, costly, and ineffective government-run health care onto an unwilling nation; and

WHEREAS, Americans have consistently made their opposition to the bill known, but Democrats ignored their wishes; and

WHEREAS, public opinion surveys consistently show that nearly two-thirds of Missourians oppose the federal health care bill; and

WHEREAS, the Democrats’ bill does nothing to control costs; instead, it will raise taxes, raise premiums, slash Medicare, and force a one-size-fits-all health care mandate on more than 300 million people; and

WHEREAS, a recent study by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation found that Missouri Medicaid enrollment could increase by more than 437,000, costing the state up to $773 million between 2014 and 2019; and

WHEREAS, Republicans, including Lt. Governor Peter Kinder and members of the Missouri General Assembly, are working to protect Missourians from the federal government’s infringement on our state sovereignty; and

WHEREAS, the Missouri Republican Party supports the right of all Missourians to make their own health care choices, including the right not to be forced into a health care system they do not want; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Missouri Republican State Committee supports the Health Care Freedom Act and urges the adoption of Proposition C, which will appear on the August 2010 primary election ballot.

Lt. Governor Peter Kinder commended the work of Senate Majority Floor Leader, Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, Sen. Scott Rupp, R-St. Charles, and Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield. Together, they were able to break a filibuster to lead to the passage of the Health Care Freedom Act.

“I applaud the efforts of the Missouri General Assembly to ensure that Missourians have the opportunity to vote on a health care bill that I believe is blatantly unconstitutional,” said Kinder. “Democrats in Washington ignored the will of the people when they passed their intrusive and overbearing health care bill, but now, Missourians will be able to make their voices heard.”

The Health Care Freedom Act as amended would, upon voter approval, provide that no federal law shall compel a patient, employer, or health care provider to participate in any government or privately run health care system, nor prohibit a patient or employer from paying directly for legal health care services.

Sen. Jane Cunningham drafted the legislative language that will give Missourians a say in the health care bill. “Today is a historic day for the state,” said Sen. Cunningham.  “Over the past year, Missourians have stood up and said ‘enough is enough.’  Now they will have the opportunity to make their voices heard at the ballot box.”

Sen. Scott Rupp sponsored the bill that includes the health care provision.  “I took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution and to protect the rights and freedoms of all Missourians,” said Sen. Rupp. “I am proud to be the Senate handler of this very important legislation that fulfills that oath.”

“Missourians deserve to vote to affirm their right to make their own healthcare decisions,” said Sen. Engler. “We must give Missourians the opportunity to make it clear to the federal government that they do not support this one-size-fits-all mandate.”

When passed by the House, voters will have the final say in federal control of health care.

In January, the GOP-led House sent a message to Washington by passing a resolution—HCR 18, sponsored by Rep John Diehl—urging Congress to oppose the Democrats’ health care proposal, citing the new taxes, unfunded mandates, publicly-funded abortions, and lack of transparency included in the bill.  Yesterday, this same resolution was debated on the floor of the State Senate, where Democrats blocked it by filibustering.

Today, on the same day that more than one hundred Missourians rallied at the Capitol in support of Missouri’s sovereignty, the Senate passed a resolution—SCR 34, sponsored by Sen. Jim Lembke—asserting the state’s sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment.

“Republicans in the General Assembly have given Missourians a voice in the national debate at a time when many people feel that Democrats in Washington simply don’t care what they think,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.  “Barack Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi have shown that they will stop at nothing to impose their agenda on the American people, and our Republican representatives are standing up and saying ‘enough is enough.’”

The most recent Rasmussen Reports survey, released March 10, shows that an overwhelming number of Missourians—60%—oppose the Democrats’ health care plan.

“All across the nation, Americans are soundly rejecting the big-government, over-reaching policies of President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. In the past 3 months, Republicans have won statewide races in the swing-state of Virginia and in deep-blue states like New Jersey and Massachusetts, all which voted heavily for Barack Obama. This is an unmistakable repudiation of the Democrats’ agenda—from their health care debacle to cap-and-trade and the expansion of the federal government into the lives and pocketbooks of hard-working Americans.

“Scott Brown’s victory has put Missouri Democrats on notice. Now more than ever, it is clear that Missourians will hold Robin Carnahan, Claire McCaskill, Ike Skelton, and Russ Carnahan accountable for blindly supporting the Obama-Pelosi-Reid agenda while turning their backs on our state.”

“Barack Obama carried Virginia and New Jersey by large margins in 2008, but just one year later, voters in those states are resoundingly rejecting the liberal policies of Obama’s anointed candidates.  In Virginia, Republicans swept all statewide offices—Governor, Lt Governor, Attorney General, and increased majority in House of Delegates.  And in deep blue New Jersey, voters today chose conservative change.

“Obama’s coattails have all but disappeared, and tonight’s election results should put Democrats on notice. Supporting the liberal Obama-Pelosi agenda is dangerous, even in states that voted overwhelmingly for Democrats just one year ago.

“This was a referendum on the direction Democrats like Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barack Obama are taking our nation. Voters are upset with the failed stimulus, the government’s proposed takeover of our health care system, and the national energy tax known as ‘cap and trade.’

“With just a year until the pivotal 2010 elections, tonight’s elections have given the Republican Party the momentum and a mandate to take back our nation.”

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Note: Mike Talboy co-sponsored HB 567, a bill that would have increased income taxes by more than $2 billion.

“Thanks to the hard work of our Republican elected officials, Missouri is leading the way in allowing doctors to practice medicine without the threat of frivolous lawsuits. Malpractice reform, which passed in 2005 under the leadership of a Republican Governor and Legislature despite the objections of many Democrats, has proven to be an effective deterrent to unnecessary lawsuits which used to clog the legal system—while still allowing legal recourse for those who truly deserve it.

“These are the types of innovative policies that should serve as a model for national health care reform, instead of a one-size-fits-all government takeover that is currently being pushed by Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid.”

“Mike Ferguson has dedicated his life to the cause of freedom and liberty—ideals shared by Republicans across the state,” said Lt. Governor Peter Kinder. “Today, the Missouri GOP welcomes Mike into the party. Mike’s leadership will be an asset to our movement as we continue the fight for fiscal responsibility, smaller government, and personal freedom.”

“This announcement once again demonstrates that the GOP is truly a big-tent party. As our nation faces the unprecedented expansion of the federal government, it is more important than ever to join together and present a positive vision of the future,” said David Cole, Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party. “Our success depends on our ability to reach out to people like Mike who share our beliefs.”

Ferguson, an active member of the Libertarian Party for more than 14 years, proved to be an effective spokesperson and strategist when he managed the effort to end political profiling in the state during the controversy over political profiling by the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC).

Prior to his work for the Missouri Libertarian Party, Ferguson served as the National Field Director for former Congressman Bob Barr’s presidential campaign in 2008. He was awarded the Libertarian National Committee’s Thomas Paine Award in 2008 and is a past recipient of the Missouri Libertarian Party’s “Champion of Freedom” award.

In his announcement, Ferguson explained why he is joining the Republican Party:

“My principles and beliefs have not changed. I am for cutting unneeded government spending. I am a fiscal conservative who believes that government should stay out of the private sector as much as possible. I am pro life. I am a believer in the common-sense truth that protecting personal freedom should be the goal of government at all levels. I don’t want to just talk about better, smaller government for Missouri, I want to be part of creating a better, smaller government in our state. I am at home in the Republican Party.

“I am a Reagan/Goldwater Republican. The stakes are simply too high to dilute the freedom-centered vote. We need a Republican Party that once again proclaims and puts into practice the values that were once the centerpiece of our party.

“Fortunately, the Missouri Republican Party is listening and is once again embracing the part of its base that has felt abandoned in recent years. I am excited to have the opportunity to help reconnect the party with the freedom movement.”

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“Members of the Missouri General Assembly should be especially proud of the conservative reforms they made to the state’s education system—reforms that will ensure our students get the best possible education and training for their future,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party. “By increasing education standards, Missouri is making it more difficult for students to give up and drop out. And by rewarding the best teachers with incentives for their hard work, we have made it clear, once and for all, that students are more important than teachers’ unions.”

In addition to merit pay and additional credit requirements, the General Assembly also passed a budget that increases funding for K-12 education by $63 million and holds state funding for higher education steady.

Earlier this year, Jay Nixon boasted about a supposed “deal” that he made with the state’s public universities to hold tuition steady during the next school year. But as the Associated Press reports, no such deal was needed—tuition would have remained the same with or without Nixon’s input. From the AP article, May 10, 2009: “Gov. Jay Nixon has made much ado about brokering a deal in which colleges and universities agreed to hold tuition flat in exchange for avoiding state budget cuts. As it turns out, the same outcome may have occurred regardless of the agreement, thanks to a combination of state and federal laws and the sluggish economy.”

Thanks in part to the Republican-led General Assembly’s 2007 passage of a proposal that linked tuition increases to inflation (which was .1% last year), prices would have remained steady. To make Nixon’s credit-grab worse, the tuition limit was included in a larger education package that Nixon strongly opposed.

“Jay Nixon is taking credit for freezing the tuition at public colleges and universities, but in reality, it happened because of previous legislation that Nixon opposed,” said Smith. “The credit should go to Republicans in the General Assembly who in 2007 worked hard to pass a bill limiting tuition increases to the rate of inflation. Such a limit never would have happened if Jay Nixon had his way.”

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