Rep Crafting Amendment Exempting LA from National Health Care

[MountainLaurel]

Meet Exhibit A in why Louisiana is almost last in any health care statistic you find.

NEW ORLEANS – A state representative said he will propose a constitutional amendment that would shield the state from being forced to accept any national health care changes that may pass.

"What the bill does if you read it, the Senate version too, it would penalize employers,” said Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge. “They would charge 8 percent tax on your state payroll if you don't participate in the plan, so that is clearly a penalty and a fine, and that's something this constitutional amendment would hopefully be able to blunt.”

Two-thirds of the Louisiana legislature would have to vote in favor of Talbot's amendment. It is a vote he won't get from state Rep. Juan Lafonta, D-New Orleans. He said not only is such a decision too premature, not knowing what a final healthcare bill would include, it also is simply a poor choice for most residents here.

"It will adversely impact all the Medicare and Medicaid dollars we get from the federal government, so any funding we have for seniors, for disabled folks, for the elderly, a lot of folks are not going to receive those funds," said Lafonta.

http://www.wwltv.com/topstories/stories/wwl081209cbhealthcare.d4f24602.html

[ellenfl]

1. that should wipe out the republicans in nola. eom

[BattyDem]

2. So ... drowning them wasn't enough?

The Repukes really hate NOLA, don't they?

[MountainLaurel]

4. Well, this isn't just NOLA, it's the entire state

And the healthcare system here is so bad that without Medicare dollars, it would crumble into nothingness.

[BattyDem]

5. I know it's the whole state, but ...

I can't think of LA without automatically thinking of NOLA. Those people were left to die by a Republican administration and now another Republican wants to make sure that everyone else in the state dies, too ... or at least make it harder to survive. It's as if the GOP is determined to make life in LA as difficult as possible. :-( :grr:

edited: typo :blush:

[ddeclue]

3. Hey Moran... you're a STATE rep, not a Congressman..

You can't exempt the state from Federal legislation on healthcare by a state law..

:crazy: