Update On TheOhioProject

If I am understanding the happenings regarding Health Insurance in Ohio correctly, there are two separate issues going on right now.

1) a coalition of Ohio Tea Party groups are doing the heavy lifting, on securing what is now being reported as a 400,000 signature petition of registered Ohio voters in order to add the question to the ballot for deciding whether the Ohio Attorney General joins the fight against the unconstitutionality of Obama's Federal Health Care Bill. The Ohio Tea Party groups have set up a site called TheOhioProject.com to collect signatures online. They have a very narrow 90 day window to accomplish this task. They need your help. If you live in Ohio or know someone there clue them in on this important project. We need as many states as possible fighting this Federal intrusion into the State's domain.

2) A second initiative is a push for ballot inclusion calling for an Amendment, to Ohio's State Constitution entitled the Health Care Freedom Amendment. It's intended purpose would put the decision of whether or not to buy health insurance back into the hands of the individual citizen resident of Ohio, not the Federal Government's.

Perhaps this will be a model piece of legislation for states that lack this provision to use as their guidance.

Steve
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1. April 2010

Attorney General Cordray Certifies the Health Care Freedom Amendment
From ONNtv.com:

Ohioans May Get Health Care Vote
Thursday, April 1, 2010 3:46 PM
Updated: Thursday, April 1, 2010 5:00 PM

By Jim Heath

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Democratic Attorney General Richard Cordray has given the green light to a tea party ballot effort that will attempt to nullify the new health care law in the state.

“The Attorney General’s role in this, and we’ve researched it carefully, is limited to determining whether the summary given to us of the law is a fair and accurate statement of the proposed amendment. In this case it is,” Cordray told ONN Capitol Square Moderator Jim Heath on Thursday.

The Ohio Liberty Council, a coalition of tea party groups, has drafted a proposed state constitutional amendment that would allow Ohioans to decide if they want to purchase health insurance.

Cordray, who earlier this week announced the state would not join 13 others in suing the federal government over the health care law, said his role in this decision is different.

“It’s not a matter of whether I agree or disagree, it’s not a matter of what I think of federal Constitutional law. It’s a matter of is this a fair and accurate summary and I didn’t want exceed my role,” he said.

A coalition of health care and anti-poverty advocates had urged Cordray to reject the ballot effort.

“They wanted me to block this, but I don’t have the authority under the law to do that,” Cordray said. “I’m not going to exceed my authority. I am the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the state and I need to set an example. Whatever I may think, and whatever may be the outcome of the law, my role here was to certify as truthful and accurate and I believe it is a fair and accurate summary.”

This is a victory for Ohio tea party groups who view the health care law as intrusive big government.

The initiative will be reviewed by the Secretary of State, then supporters will have about 90 days to collect 400,000 valid signatures to get it on the state ballot, Heath reported.

Tea party members believe they’ll be able to accomplish that and let Ohioans vote on it this November.

You can watch more with Corday on ONN’s Capitol Square on Sunday at 10:00 a.m