Freedom and Liberty
Health Care Freedom Act Death by Deadline

Body: House | Journal Page: 8432  (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Emmer, T.
Acting on: HF171  Date: 03/09/2010
Result: Motion failed 52 - 80

The Emmer motion would move HF 171, the Freedom of Choice in Health Care constitutional amendment, out of the cold dead grasp of Rep. Thissen's Health Care Policy Committee and into Rep. Carlson's Finance Committee.  The motion at least moves the bill that much closer to the House Floor for a final vote. Rep. Thissen stated on the floor that he would not give the bill a hearing before the first committee deadline, thereby rendering the bill all but dead. 

The bill would put the following question before the voters in the 2010 general election: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to state that because all people should have the right to make decisions about their health care, no law shall be passed that restricts a person's freedom of choice of private health care systems or private health plans of any type? No law shall interfere with a person's or entity's right to pay directly for lawful medical services, nor shall any law impose a penalty or fine, of any type, for choosing to obtain or decline health care coverage or for participation in any particular health care system or health plan."

Members should vote Yea now so their constituents can vote Yea in November. 

Freedom and Liberty
Not Germane: State Lawsuit to Stop ObamaCare Mandate

Body: House | Journal Page: 9197  (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: N
Author: Seifert
Acting on: HF1671  Date: 03/22/2010
Result: Ruling Upheld 86 - 48

On the morning after passage in Washington of ObamaCare, Rep. Seifert offered an amendment (LINK) to direct Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson to file a lawsuit in federal district court.  The amendment directed Swanson to challenge "the federal government's authority under the United States Constitution to regulate interstate commerce to force individuals to buy health insurance."  Seifert incorporated language in his amendment to use the Legislature's carry forward money to pay any costs associated with the filing. 

The amendment would have added Minnesota to the list of states to challenge ObamaCare.  As of March 22, ten state AG's said they planned to challenge the legislation.  Rep. Carlson challenged the germaness of the amendment and the Speaker found the point of order well taken.  Seifert challenged the ruling and asked for a roll call.  There are plausible arguments in both directions on the germaness of the amendment, but since germaness rulings are mostly about politics, not parliamentary procedure, vote N0 against the Speaker's ruling and in favor the of the Seifert amendment. 
 

Freedom and Liberty
The Glorious People's Internet!

Body: House | Journal Page: 9546  (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: N
Author: Johnson, S.
Acting on: HF2907  Date: 03/24/2010
Result: Bill Passed 118 - 15

Comrade Sheldon Johnson's HF 2907 is a Soviet-style five year plan for Internet access for all kolkhozy in the Minnesota Socialist Union.  This courageous declaration of a bill establishes bold State goals:  "It is the goal of this state that, no later than 2015, all state residents and businesses have access to broadband that provides download speeds of no less than ten megabits per second and upload speeds of no less than five megabits per second....  It is the goal of this state that by 2015, and continuing thereafter: (1) the proportion of Minnesota residents and businesses having access to broadband ranks among the five states in the United States and the 15 nations globally that have the highest proportion of that measure; and (2) Minnesota ranks among the five states in the United States with the highest broadband speed that is universally accessible to state residents and businesses." 

Here's a better approachski:  "It is the goal of this state government to keep the hell out of the way and let competition work its magic to provide the fastest and cheapest Internet access to Minnesota consumers.  No provider of Internet access will receive a regulatory advantage nor will the state or local units of government provide any taxpayer subsidies for this purpose." 

Vote Red. Ski.

Freedom and Liberty
Recall from Committee Resolution Opposing ObamaCare

Body: Senate | Journal Page:  8016 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Ortman, J.
Acting on: SF3276  Date: 03/18/2010
Result: Motion failed 22 - 45

The resolution to urge Minnesota's congressional delegation to vote No on H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), really sums up the key constitutional and fiscal problems with the bill including, (from the resolution), an unconstitutional individual mandate, an unconstitutional capitation tax, and definitions of health coverage by the members of a panel who are not accountable to voters and who are free to promote their own agendas.  Click here for a Heritage Foundation summary of the top ten problems with the bill.

Sen. Ortman's motion would have withdrawn the resolution from the Committee on Health, Housing and Family Security, given it a second reading, and placed it on General Orders.  Since the federal health care legislation was to be acted on in Congress in a few days, passage in the Minnesota Legislature of the Ortman resolution was urgent.  This vote would have simply brought the issue before the Senate to be considered for passage.

Freedom and Liberty
Gradual and Silent Encroachments

Body: Senate | Journal Page:  9008 (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Vandeveer
Acting on: SF2415  Date: 03/25/2010
Result: Amendment Defeated 17 - 38

The Vandeveer amendment repeals the "primary offence" status that authorizes the cops to pull you over if they happen to notice that you are not wearing your seat belt.  The primary offence language has been a bone of contention for years, and like many causes championed by legislative do-gooders whose sole purpose in life is to pass laws that make it impossible for anyone to get hurt, opposition finally wore down and the law was passed in 2009.  Whether or not you believe in seat belts (BillsandVotes.com endorses seat belt use), you may still have concerns about giving the police yet another reason to pull you over and collect revenue from you in the form of a fine.  And then there's that freedom thing.  Sen. Vandeveer used a quote from James Madison to help make his case for repeal of primary offence:  "I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations."  Sen. Limmer pointed out the irony that the bill being amended by Sen. Vandeveer provides an exemption from the use of seat belts for children.  Touché. Vote Green.

Freedom and Liberty
Judges Subject to Minnesota Gift Ban Law

Body: House | Journal Page: 9820  (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Severson
Acting on: SF80  Date: 04/07/2010
Result: Amendment Adopted 127 - 0

The first portion of the Severson amendment would add judges to the list of public officials who are subject to the gift ban under MS 10A.071, Subd. 1.  If for no other reason than to assuage public opinion, the gift ban should apply to any official who has the authority to impose law or, in the case of judges, administer and interpret laws.  Under current law the gift ban applies to public officials, employees of the legislature, or a local official of a metropolitan governmental unit.  Vote Green.

Freedom and Liberty
Gun and Concealed Carry Permit Data Collection Prohibited

Body: House | Journal Page: 9899  (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: Y
Author: Holberg
Acting on: SF2866  Date: 04/08/2010
Result: Amendment Adopted 92 - 38

The Holberg amendment would prohibit the collection of data related to firearms as part of the Statewide Trauma Registry being created in SF 2866.  The amendment prohibits trauma hospitals and the Department of Health "from collecting data on individuals regarding lawful firearm ownership in the state or data related to an individual's right to carry a weapon under section 624.714."  MS 624.714 governs the carrying of weapons in Minnesota and includes the "must issue" provision.  When government collects a new set of data about private citizens, its a good idea to place strict limits on what can and what cannot be included in the database. 

Contrary to opposition from Reps. Hortman and Loeffler, the Holberg amendment would not stop trauma centers from recording the cause of an injury if the individual suffered a gun shot.  It would, however, stop the Dept. of Health from investigating the circumstances surrounding the use of a firearm.  That is the job of law enforcement., not government busybodies. Vote Green.

Freedom and Liberty
Final House Vote, Health Care Transaction Clearinghouse

Body: | Journal Page: 10064  (Click to view vote.)
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: N
Author: Thissen
Acting on: SF2852  Date: 04/12/2010
Result: Bill Passed 86 - 39

SF 2852 creates a health care clearinghouse for health care provider transactions and uniform electronic transactions.  Sounds great, but generally speaking, there are ongoing concerns about the handling of electronic medical records.  Also, legislators don't have a great deal of trust regarding initiatives of the Dept. of Health.  Vote Red.