Do you oppose Harry Reid's government option?
Sign Up to Opt-Out of Harry Reid's Government OptionNovember 6, 2009
Fellow Nevadans,
In recent days and weeks, it has become apparent that Senator Reid intends to jam through a partisan health care bill that even moderates like Senators Lieberman and Snowe cannot support. This is not surprising coming from a Senator who denied the people of Nevada their own public hearing on health care reform.
I intend to be a different type of Senator - one who values the opinions of my constituents, including the opinions of those who disagree with me.
Remember, I held a town hall on health care when Senator Reid did not, and about a third of the audience was composed of Reid supporters. I am not afraid of debate.
Senator Reid claims that he will have the votes to pass a health care bill that includes an opt-out provision for the states.
So I am announcing that I will form a state initiative committee - the Nevada Health Care Choice Committee - to raise money and gather signatures to put the opt-out provision in the hands of Nevadans on the 2010 election ballot.
This is too important an issue to be passed solely on a partisan basis as one of Senator Reid’s backroom re-election ploys. And because it touches every aspect of our lives, it cannot be left to state bureaucrats or politicians. If Nevadans want the plan, they can vote for it. But at least an initiative will give us time for real debate. The same debate Senator Reid has denied them for the past several months.
And I invite other initiative efforts to spring up across America, state by state where possible. We cannot sit back and let an ideological movement take over in place of common sense debate and discussion. We must get back to the will of the people and the limited, constitutional role of government.
Everyone knows I oppose Senator Reid’s partisan, ideological health care plan that puts our care in the hands of
bureaucrats. It is phony, subsidized competition in the name of big government. The bill Senator Reid wants to
pass includes premium increases for the middle class, Medicare cuts and costs $1 trillion dollars. That is a proposal
worth of at least one town hall - it is worth putting before the people.
When it comes to health care, I have outlined a different approach. Instead of more bureaucracy, I support steps to create more health care choices, such as removing the antitrust exemption for health insurers, allowing interstate competition, promoting private, portable insurance and reducing health care costs through tort reform.
Now it is possible that Senator Reid will react to this referendum proposal by removing the opt-out provision, so we will keep an eye out for that. I have consulted with experts familiar with the process in Washington and there are still some legal issues to be worked out as the final bill emerges. In the meantime, we will take the necessary steps to get this process going.
Whatever the outcome, it is worth the fight.
Thank you,
Danny Tarkanian
Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Nevada
